US: Pepsi Bottling Group to acquire California bottler

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 1 February 2010

The Pepsi Bottling Group (PGB) has signed a letter of intent to acquire Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Yuba City, Inc.

The Pepsi-Cola franchised bottler, based in northern California, is a family-owned business headed by John Cary as president.

PBG said yesterday (31 January) that it expects the transaction to be completed during the second quarter of 2010. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Acquiring well-run independent bottlers continues to be an important part of our strategy to capitalise on geographic growth opportunities,” said PBG chairman and CEO Eric Foss.

This is the sixth in a series of deals that PBG has announced since the beginning of 2008 in a bid to expand its US footprint.

Last summer, PBG completed the acquisition of Pepsi-Cola Bottlers for the Merrimack Valley for an undisclosed fee.

The firm added that to its deal to buy fellow Pepsi bottler Ab-Tex Beverage in Texas in the third quarter of 2009.

PBG and fellow bottler PepsiAmericas are set to be swallowed by parent firm Pepsico in a $7.8bn deal, although the firms have yet to obtain final regulatory clearance.

Sectors: Soft drinks, Water

Companies: Pepsi Bottling, Pepsi-Cola, PepsiAmericas