July 22, 2025 – PURCHASE, NEW YORK – PepsiCo Beverages U.S. (PBUS) named Gross & Jarson’s (G&J) Hamilton, Ohio franchise as the 2024 Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year.
Named for PepsiCo’s former chairman and chief executive officer, the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award was created more than three decades ago to recognize top-performing independent bottlers across the U.S. who lead with excellence, drive growth, and give back to their communities.
This year’s award was presented to Tim Trant, CEO, T.R. Gross, SVP of Strategic Business Initiatives, and Steve Kaplan, SVP of Operations at G&J by PBUS CEO Ram Krishnan and Paul Finney, SVP, Strategic Partnerships at an awards ceremony held on Thursday, July 17 in Orlando, Florida.
G&J’s Hamilton team has been recognized not only for their outstanding execution and operational excellence but also for their legacy as a longtime PepsiCo partner celebrating 100 years of resilience and leadership. The team continues to set a high standard by pioneering innovative approaches like display-ready pallets, consistently driving strong in-store presence, and delivering bold execution across channels – from major retail accounts to large-scale events. Their commitment to safety and efficiency further strengthens their reputation as a high-performing, forward-thinking organization dedicated to serving customers, consumers, and their communities.
“It’s incredibly special to see Gross & Jarson’s Hamilton team back in the spotlight,” said Mike Ruff, President of PBUS’s North Division. “The last time they earned this honor was in 1997, the same year Pepsi celebrated its 100th anniversary. Now, nearly three decades later, they’re once again recognized at the highest level during their own centennial year. It’s a full-circle moment that speaks volumes about their consistency, leadership, and lasting impact on our system.”
“It’s an honor to receive the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award during such a milestone year for our company,” said Tim Trant, CEO of Gross & Jarson. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our Hamilton team and the strength of our partnership with PepsiCo. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited for what’s ahead.”
Additionally, honored as 2024 Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year finalists were WP Beverages of Logansport, Indiana, Pepsi-Cola of Central Virginia and Nackard Pepsi of Flagstaff, Arizona.
About Gross & Jarson
G&J Pepsi is a family-owned Pepsi bottler. For almost 100 years, G&J have provided high quality products and unparalleled customer service to Ohio and Kentucky. In 1925, Nell Raleigh and Esther Jarson convinced their boyfriend and husband, Walter Gross and Isaac Jarson, to purchase the New York Mineral Water Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. They received rights from Pepsi in 1935 and grew the business throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Today, G&J Pepsi is the largest independent Pepsi bottler in the country, still led today by four members of the 3rd generation of the founding families: Steve Kaplan, Rick Kaplan, T.R. Gross and Walter Gross III. G&J Pepsi carries a portfolio of over 650 products and employs over 1,900 people. For more information about G&J, visit https://www.gjpepsi.com/.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
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