US: Pepsi Bottling Group completes Better Beverages buy

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 2 June 2009

The Pepsi Bottling Group has completed the acquisition of Better Beverages, a Pepsi-Cola and Dr Pepper franchised bottler serving central Texas.

Pepsi Bottling Group, which announced the deal yesterday (1 June), signed a letter of intent to purchase Halletsville-based Better Beverages in late March.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Better Beverages, founded in 1925, operates across 20 counties in Texas. It has a production facility in Hallettsville, as well as three satellite warehouses in Wharton, Victoria and Brenham.

PBG last autumn announced a restructuring programme across its business, set to result in 3,000 job losses across Mexico, North America and Europe.

The bottler recently rejected a takeover bid from parent firm PepsiCo.

Foss told analysts in New York in February that, while near-term economic difficulty will hurt soft drinks sales, the company will focus on positioning itself for when the economy improves.

Sectors: Soft drinks

Companies: Pepsi Bottling, Pepsi-Cola, Dr Pepper