Buffalo Rock Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting at New Home in Tuscaloosa

Leaders from several sectors across Tuscaloosa were at the brand-new home of the Buffalo Rock Company for a Tuesday morning ribbon-cutting to celebrate the facility's completion.

The company is the nation's largest single-family, privately-owned Pepsi and Dr Pepper bottler employs more than 2,300 people to serve customers in Alabama, western Georgia and the panhandle of Florida, and supplies so many of Tuscaloosa's favorite stores and restaurants.

The heads of some of those restaurants joined Buffalo Rock owner Jimmy Lee andSenior Vice President Wayne Wisdom, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, and dignitaries from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and more Tuesday at the new facility on Industrial Park Drive to cut a ribbon there. The event was hosted by franchise general sales manager Chris Gunter - known more commonly around town as "the Pepsi guy."

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"I'm certainly proud of Chris, of what you have done here and what Buffalo Rock has done for Tuscaloosa," Mayor Maddox said. "Partnerships are easy when you have Partners who are embedded with nothing but success, and I have no doubt moving forward that Buffalo Rock will continue to set the standard not only of doing business in Tuscaloosa but also of giving back to this amazing community."

Jheovanny Gómez, the chair of the Chamber board and the owner of the Jalapenos restaurants across the area, also took the podium to praise Buffalo Rock and Gunter, their local leader.

"This is certainly an exciting day in Buffalo Rock history - and we're so thankful to so many of you who have worked tirelessly to get this new facility open - but also it's an exciting day for our community," Gomez said. "We get to see firsthand the growth of not only the best soft drink brand but the growth of our best community partner. Buffalo Rock Company is a testament and example to commitment and dedication to their customers and to our community."

The sprawling new space features conference meeting rooms, office space for sales and logistics, a massive warehouse for distribution and much more.

The bigger facility will also require a bigger team to staff, and Gunter said new jobs will be created in both sales and merchandising departments.

“I’m thrilled about the opening of our new Tuscaloosa Franchise Sales Center. This facility represents our commitment to enhancing customer service and efficiencies,” Gunter said. “With improved resources and a dedicated space for collaboration, we’re poised to serve our customers better than ever.”

"We at Buffalo Rock really spend our time in your stores and your nonprofits and in your places, that's where we live," Gunter said. "But you know what? It's kind of nice to have a little home to come back to. Thank y'all so much for being a part of this."

For more coverage of news around West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.