Buffalo Rock Co. has sold its full-line vending operations to Five Star Breaktime Solutions, based in Tennessee, and Canteen North America, based in North Carolina.
Buffalo Rock is the nation’s largest privately owned, single-family Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper bottler. The company, which has been family owned for nearly 125 years, was established in 1901 as the Alabama Grocery Co., releasing its Ginger Ale in 1906 and opening its first full-scale bottling plant in 1922.
The company’s full-line vending operations grew to almost 700 micro markets and more than 7,600 vending locations.
“Buffalo Rock has built a strong and successful full-line vending business over the years, and we are excited to see it transition into the capable hands of Five Star and Canteen — two outstanding organizations that share our commitment to service excellence,” said Matthew Dent, president and CEO of Buffalo Rock Co. “This strategic partnership allows us to focus on our core beverage business while ensuring our vending customers continue to receive best-in-class service.”
Five Star will add to its base of business from all or parts of 10 of Buffalo Rock’s 14 franchise sales center locations. Canteen partners will split the remaining vending operations.
Canteen, based in North Carolina, is the largest unattended retail provider in the U.S., providing food and beverages, according to its website.
Five Star President and CEO Richard Kennedy says the transaction transforms two longtime competitors into strategic partners. “It will position our two companies around a common goal of providing our customers with a more balanced portfolio of products and services while creating a partnership that enhances future growth for both of us,” Kennedy said.
David Miller, senior vice president of customer strategy, marketing and brand development at Buffalo Rock, said, “This move strengthens our ability to invest in the future by enhancing our executional capabilities, expanding and innovating our beverage portfolio, and elevating our brand developmental efforts.”
Buffalo Rock has more than 1,000 different beverage SKUs. All of its plastic bottles are made in Alabama, and it manufactures and sells almost a billion units annually, according to its website.
