4 minute read
Pouring on the Success
Pouring on the Success
BY HOLLY DODGE
In 1898, chemist and pharmacist Caleb Bradham developed “Brad’s drink” - a combination of carbonated water, sugar, vanilla, rare oils, and cola nuts. It made his drugstore in New Bern, North Carolina a popular destination. Renaming his drink in 1902, Bradham began to bottle and distribute under the more familiar name, Pepsi-Cola.
In 1937, the Gillette Pepsi-Cola Companies were founded by Norman Gillette, Sr., who purchased the Pepsi-Cola franchise for $1,200 from a wholesale grocer. In 1940, the south-central Minnesota franchise in North Mankato joined the Gillette Pepsi-Cola Company. To this day, Gillette PepsiCola continues to lead the market with their determination to be the best.
And the best they are. This year, Gillette Pepsi of North Mankato was awarded the prestigious Central Division Bottler of the Year award. “It’s like the Oscars of the beverage industry,” Bonnie Barrer, VP of Sales and Marketing, jokes. But it’s no joke; the national award gauges two-year volume and share growth, per capita consumption, product quality, customer service, and community involvement. This great honor also places Gillette Pepsi as one of five finalists for the overall Bottler of the Year, called the Donald M. Kendall Bottler Award, awarded in July. Gillette Pepsi stays true to their mission: “To be the best supplier of refreshing beverages…period.”
Bonnie knows firsthand the quality of Gillette Pepsi, having spent the last 16 years with the company. A Madelia native, Bonnie actually began her career in the beverage industry with the competitor Coca-Cola. In 1987, she was the first female sales representative. Bonnie shares, “It was pretty low pay and a job no one wanted. I thought it sounded fun.” Besides being the first female Sales Rep, she was also pregnant with her first daughter. Back then, maternity leave was still a bit uncharted, and some male customers even suggested she “stay home with her babies.”
Luckily, Bonnie didn’t take that advice to heart. She worked her way up, taking on every leadership opportunity she could. From sales and marketing with Coca-Cola to Gillette Pepsi, where she began as General Manager overseeing sales and distribution in Mankato, then moving to Director of Retail Sales, and currently Bonnie serves as the VP of Sales and Marketing, overseeing four facilities located in Southern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa.
Pepsi’s extensive range of products saturate the Mankato area. Attend a concert at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center or an athletic event at Minnesota State University, Mankato and an array of refreshing Pepsi offerings are available to choose from. Gillette Pepsi distributes over 700 beverage brands and package sizes, ranging from soft drinks to coffee and sparkling water, including a local favorite, Bubbl’r.
But Gillette Pepsi isn’t only committed to quenching thirst. They are also committed to investing in their community. Just this year, they launched their original “Zero Hero” campaign, which donates proceeds from every Zero Sugar carbonated soft drink beverage sold to local youth organizations. They also directly support other area nonprofits with funds, products, and volunteer time. “We are proud to put in hours to support our communities,” says Bonnie. Gillette Pepsi also offers generous programs, services, and support called “Pepsi Perks” that enable their employees to thrive physically, financially, and emotionally. A testament to the benefits of the perks: Gillette Pepsi currently has over 100 employees with over 20 years of service.
Bonnie, a wife, mother, grandma, and tenacious leader, has seen her years of hard work and dedication pay off. Now leading a robust regional market at a company where kindness flows and hard work is celebrated, Bonnie shares that she is “Proud of the team in all our divisions.”
When Bonnie is not busy “Dew-ing Good,” she enjoys spending time with her husband Gary (who she met at North Mankato Fun Days), visiting with her two daughters and four grandchildren, or you might catch her waterskiing or snowshoeing at their lake cabin. Obviously, the years have not dimmed her desire for fun.
And the million-dollar question had to be asked:
“You’re at a restaurant. Do you order a Whiskey Coke or a Whiskey Pepsi?”
Through laughter, Bonnie vehemently says, “Pepsi!”
And if that’s not an option, well then, she’ll just settle for a vodka club soda.
To learn more about the tremendous ways Gillette Pepsi supports the Greater Mankato area, you can visit www.gillettepepsicola.com or follow them on Facebook.
