About Us

About Us

For more than a century, we have never forgotten our reason for being: the customer. From our early beginnings as a grocery store to today’s bottling operation, fountain and coffee services, and full line of beverage and snack vending, ours is a story of serving our local communities.

Our Start

Since 1901

From the very beginning, we have been innovators – adapting, growing and building our company into what it is today. And because of those efforts we have established ourselves as a leader, leveraging more than a century of experience to become one of the most recognized, respected and dynamic bottlers in the industry.

Soda Fountain
Our Start

Our History

  • 1885
    timeline image

    Dr Pepper is created by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas.

  • 1898
    timeline image

    Pharmacist Caleb Bradham creates Brad’s Drink in New Bern, North Carolina

  • 1901
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company opens with Sidney Lee as president.

  • 1902
    timeline image

    Brad’s Drink renamed and trademarked as Pepsi-Cola.

  • 1906
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company releases Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale, a soda created by chemist Asby Coleman.

  • 1916
    timeline image

    Grapico is first bottled in New Orleans, LA.

  • 1922
    timeline image

    The first full-scale bottling plant for Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale is built in Birmingham, Alabama.

  • 1927
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company officially changes its name to Buffalo Rock Company.

  • 1940
    timeline image

    Mountain Dew is invented by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman.

  • 1944
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Sr. named president of Buffalo Rock Company.

  • 1951
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Jr. becomes president of Buffalo Rock, and successfully completes his father’s negotiations for a Pepsi-Cola franchise agreement.

  • 1954
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock's 26th street bottling plant expands, more than doubling its output.

  • 1962
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock becomes the first bottler to own a Dr Pepper franchise.

  • 1963
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock purchases Mountain Dew franchise rights.

  • 1964
    timeline image

    - Jimmy Lee, Jr. introduces the first non-returnable bottle.
    - The Mountain Dew brand and production rights are acquired by the Pepsi-Cola company.

  • 1966
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock opens a new plant on 15 acres on Oxmoor Road in Birmingham.

  • 1967
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Jr. acquires a 7UP franchise, making Buffalo Rock the first plant in the country to bottle three brands – Pepsi-Cola, Dr Pepper and 7UP – under one roof.

  • 1974
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock adds its first canning line.

  • 1977

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Gadsden, AL franchise.

  • 1981
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock purchases the rights to Grapico.
    - Buffalo Rock acquires the Mobile, AL and Newnan, GA franchises.
    - Buffalo Rock acquires the Pensacola, FL franchise.

  • 1983

    Buffalo Rock becomes the nation’s largest privately owned Pepsi bottler after acquiring the Huntsville and Tuscumbia, AL franchises.

  • 1984
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock introduces the 3-liter package to the soft drink industry.

  • 1986

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Albany and Columbus, GA, Dothan and Tuscaloosa, AL, and Panama City, FL franchises.

  • 1989

    Buffalo Rock acquires a franchise in Talladega, AL.

  • 1991
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, III named president, with James C. Lee, Jr. continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board and CEO.

  • 1994
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock expands to full line vending.

  • 1996

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Montgomery, AL franchise.

  • 2001
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock Company celebrates its 100th birthday.

  • 2006
    timeline image

    Beverage Industry Magazine names Buffalo Rock Bottler of the Year.

  • 2007

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Columbus, GA franchise.

  • 2012
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock installs its first micro markets in Newnan, GA and Huntsville, AL.

  • 2015
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock partners with Red Diamond Coffee & Tea.
    - Buffalo Rock implements a reverse-osmosis water system, enabling the company to bottle its own water.

  • 2016
    timeline image

    Grapico celebrates its 100th birthday with new packaging and a real-sugar formulation in a glass bottle.

  • 2020
    timeline image

    - Keurig Dr Pepper and Buffalo Rock sign a landmark agreement, which allows historically competing portfolios to be sold off the same delivery truck.
    - With the purchase of two properties on Lakeshore Drive, Buffalo Rock announces a multi-phase $300 million infrastructure plan aimed at modernizing its capabilities. The almost 77 acre property becomes the company's Lakeshore Campus.

  • 2021
    timeline image

    - Matthew Dent named President and CEO, with James C. Lee, III remaining as Chairman of the Board.
    - Begin operating the 895,000 square-foot warehousing property known as The Hub at the Lakeshore Campus. State-of-the-art Vertique automated pick system within The Hub enables the company to manage more than 1,200 SKUs.

  • 2022
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock opens 120,000 square feet of office space on the Lakeshore Campus to serve as the Birmingham Franchise Sales Center.
    - Buffalo Rock unveils the Huntsville Franchise Sales Center, a new warehousing and distribution facility located off of I-565 in Madison, AL.

  • 1885
    timeline image

    Dr Pepper is created by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas.

  • 1898
    timeline image

    Pharmacist Caleb Bradham creates Brad’s Drink in New Bern, North Carolina

  • 1901
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company opens with Sidney Lee as president.

  • 1902
    timeline image

    Brad’s Drink renamed and trademarked as Pepsi-Cola.

  • 1906
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company releases Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale, a soda created by chemist Asby Coleman.

  • 1916
    timeline image

    Grapico is first bottled in New Orleans, LA.

  • 1922
    timeline image

    The first full-scale bottling plant for Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale is built in Birmingham, Alabama.

  • 1927
    timeline image

    The Alabama Grocery Company officially changes its name to Buffalo Rock Company.

  • 1940
    timeline image

    Mountain Dew is invented by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman.

  • 1944
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Sr. named president of Buffalo Rock Company.

  • 1951
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Jr. becomes president of Buffalo Rock, and successfully completes his father’s negotiations for a Pepsi-Cola franchise agreement.

  • 1954
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock's 26th street bottling plant expands, more than doubling its output.

  • 1962
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock becomes the first bottler to own a Dr Pepper franchise.

  • 1963
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock purchases Mountain Dew franchise rights.

  • 1964
    timeline image

    - Jimmy Lee, Jr. introduces the first non-returnable bottle.
    - The Mountain Dew brand and production rights are acquired by the Pepsi-Cola company.

  • 1966
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock opens a new plant on 15 acres on Oxmoor Road in Birmingham.

  • 1967
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, Jr. acquires a 7UP franchise, making Buffalo Rock the first plant in the country to bottle three brands – Pepsi-Cola, Dr Pepper and 7UP – under one roof.

  • 1974
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock adds its first canning line.

  • 1977

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Gadsden, AL franchise.

  • 1981
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock purchases the rights to Grapico.
    - Buffalo Rock acquires the Mobile, AL and Newnan, GA franchises.
    - Buffalo Rock acquires the Pensacola, FL franchise.

  • 1983

    Buffalo Rock becomes the nation’s largest privately owned Pepsi bottler after acquiring the Huntsville and Tuscumbia, AL franchises.

  • 1984
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock introduces the 3-liter package to the soft drink industry.

  • 1986

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Albany and Columbus, GA, Dothan and Tuscaloosa, AL, and Panama City, FL franchises.

  • 1989

    Buffalo Rock acquires a franchise in Talladega, AL.

  • 1991
    timeline image

    James C. Lee, III named president, with James C. Lee, Jr. continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board and CEO.

  • 1994
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock expands to full line vending.

  • 1996

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Montgomery, AL franchise.

  • 2001
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock Company celebrates its 100th birthday.

  • 2006
    timeline image

    Beverage Industry Magazine names Buffalo Rock Bottler of the Year.

  • 2007

    Buffalo Rock acquires the Columbus, GA franchise.

  • 2012
    timeline image

    Buffalo Rock installs its first micro markets in Newnan, GA and Huntsville, AL.

  • 2015
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock partners with Red Diamond Coffee & Tea.
    - Buffalo Rock implements a reverse-osmosis water system, enabling the company to bottle its own water.

  • 2016
    timeline image

    Grapico celebrates its 100th birthday with new packaging and a real-sugar formulation in a glass bottle.

  • 2020
    timeline image

    - Keurig Dr Pepper and Buffalo Rock sign a landmark agreement, which allows historically competing portfolios to be sold off the same delivery truck.
    - With the purchase of two properties on Lakeshore Drive, Buffalo Rock announces a multi-phase $300 million infrastructure plan aimed at modernizing its capabilities. The almost 77 acre property becomes the company's Lakeshore Campus.

  • 2021
    timeline image

    - Matthew Dent named President and CEO, with James C. Lee, III remaining as Chairman of the Board.
    - Begin operating the 895,000 square-foot warehousing property known as The Hub at the Lakeshore Campus. State-of-the-art Vertique automated pick system within The Hub enables the company to manage more than 1,200 SKUs.

  • 2022
    timeline image

    - Buffalo Rock opens 120,000 square feet of office space on the Lakeshore Campus to serve as the Birmingham Franchise Sales Center.
    - Buffalo Rock unveils the Huntsville Franchise Sales Center, a new warehousing and distribution facility located off of I-565 in Madison, AL.

Officers

Leadership

  • Matthew Dent
    Matthew Dent

    President & Chief Executive Officer

  • Kevin Conaway
    Kevin Conaway

    Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

  • Emily Brown Cotney
    Emily Brown Cotney

    Senior Vice President – Chief Employee Experience Officer & Legal Counsel

  • Mike McDonald
    Mike McDonald

    Senior Vice President of Manufacturing & Supply Chain

  • Robin McKean
    Robin McKean

    Senior Vice President of Integrated Services

  • David Miller
    David Miller

    Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy, Marketing & Brand Development

  • Wayne Wisdom
    Wayne Wisdom

    Senior Vice President – Chief Business Operations Officer

Our Board

Board of Directors

  • Jimmy C Lee III

    Chairman of the Board, Owner of Buffalo Rock Company

  • Bruce Parsons

    Vice Chairman of the Board

  • Kevin Conaway

    Board Member, Buffalo Rock Company Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  • Emily Brown Cotney

    Board Member, Senior Vice President – Chief Employee Experience Officer & Legal Counsel

  • Matthew Dent

    Board Member, Buffalo Rock Company CEO and President

  • Fitzgerald Washington

    Board Member, Alabama Department of Labor Secretary

Purpose

Purpose

“Building brands through legendary service and remarkable people.”
VALUES

Our Values

  • We care for each other.
    One Team.

    We work as one team to accomplish more than we could alone.

  • Obsessed with
    continuous improvement.

    We continuously improve our processes, products and culture to create a company without limits.

  • Integrity matters.

    We do the right thing every time to earn the trust and respect of our colleagues and customers.

  • Committed to serving
    our communities.

    We give back to our community to create a positive impact on the world around us.

  • Customer success
    drives our success.

    We put our customers first because we can't succeed without them.

  • Win the day!

    We do our best every day to create small wins that will add up to extraordinary success into the future.

Culture

Our Culture

Our culture is one of legendary service and remarkable people. Living out the principle of One Team, we accomplish more together than we ever could alone. Our roots as a local company run deep. We live here, we work here, and we are committed to serving our community. Because we care genuinely for one another and the work we do, we are constantly striving to do better, be better, and make a positive impact.

Learn More
Team cheering
  • Fast Facts

    Fast Facts

  • Bottling Plant Line
  • Robot on bottling line
  • Drink Refrigerators
  • Pepsi truck on the highway
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