Nackard Pepsi has been a cornerstone of Northern Arizona’s beverage industry for more than 80 years.
The Founding Story
Nackard Pepsi was founded in 1943 by Fred and Monica Nackard. “The original mission was to provide high quality products, hire the best people and always give back to the communities we do business in,” said Palmer Nackard, Fred and Monica’s grandson and president of Nackard Companies. “That’s still the mission that guides our business today.”
Top Achievements
“We’re proud to provide jobs for our incredible employees and to support non-profits in Northern Arizona that match our philanthropic goal of increasing access to arts, science and recreation,” he said. “It is also a great honor to be nominated as North American Pepsi Bottler of the Year four times.”
Core Values
“Just as our mission has remained steady from the start, so have our core values,” said Nackard. “We operate the business with a focus on and commitment to family, service, community and integrity.”
Shifts Impacting the Business
“Over the decades, beverage innovation and consumer preference have encouraged us to evolve,” he said. “We’ve always been beverage distributors, but 30 years ago we only sold seven or eight different products. Today, we sell over 700 beverages representing carbonated beverages, energy drinks, juice drinks, kombucha, mixers, coffee, tea, sports fuel and water.”
Greatest Challenges
“One challenge we continually face is the cost of doing business in Northern Arizona,” said Nackard. “The high cost of living is one factor, but there are also logistical challenges that come with serving such a large area. We deliver products to every retail store and restaurant across 41,000 square miles. However, we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, so we don’t complain!”
At the same time, he says, Nackard Pepsi has created efficiencies and worked hard to manage the fleet to be more cost effective, reduce the environmental impact and work smarter to cover a big area. “We’ve introduced initiatives such as our recycling program, which has trucks returning recyclable material to our facility for processing, rather than having empty trucks on the road,” he added.
Looking Ahead
“Consumer preference will continue to guide our business. People get thirsty, and we’ll always have a product for them.”
The Reason for Long-Term Success
“We’ve always let our mission guide us,” said Nackard. “We have the best products, the best people and support the community. That combination has allowed us to succeed for decades.” FBN
Nackard Pepsi
4900 E Railhead Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-774-5231
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