Pepsi South Facility Opens in Hattiesburg
New bottling plant represents Wis-Pak’s significant 
economic investment, additional jobs

Pepsi bottlers, elected officials and economic development leaders November 18, 2009, celebrated the opening of a state-of-the-art 
Pepsi South bottling facility in Hattiesburg  that will produce 350,000 cases of Pepsi and Dr Pepper products per week. The 236,000 
square foot plant is located in the Forrest County Industrial Park, and is the only soft drink production facility in the area. 
Wis-Pak, a consortium of Pepsi production facilities, decided to locate the plant in Hattiesburg due to the city’s central location
, strong workforce and support of local officials and development leaders.  MEC member Brown Bottling Group, based in Ridgeland, 
is a member of Wis-Pak and worked with area leaders to help secure the facility for Forrest County.

Among those attending the ribbon cutting were Phil Bryant,  Lt. Governor of Mississippi; Johnny Dupree, mayor of Hattiesburg;  
Charles Marshall, president of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors;  Angie Godwin, President of ADP;  Bud Helpenstell, 
hairman of the Wis-Pak Board of Directors;  Barbara Parish, President of Wis-Pak;  and Bill Brown, President of Brown Bottling Group. 
Lt. Governor Phil Bryant said, “The addition of 54 full time positions and a new 236,000 square foot facility comes at a pivotal point in
 our economy as we work towards recovery in this recession. With this long term commitment, Brown Bottling and Wis-Pak have 
invested in the future of South Mississippi.”

 “This facility will put all of the bottlers in a competitive advantage to allow our customers the freshest product, produced 
with the most advanced technology in a premier facility” said Bill Brown, President of Brown Bottling Group.  “This investment 
in land, technology and people is a major economic development program for many years to come in the Southern Mississippi area. 
  There can be no doubt about our long-term commitment and strong belief in the Hattiesburg area, and we are proud to be 
the only bottler based in this outstanding city.”

In a statement, Barbara Parish, President of Wis-Pak, added, “We are happy to be part of the Hattiesburg community 
and appreciate all the support we have received from local, county and state officials.  With the addition of this facility 
Wis-Pak will be able to serve local, independent Pepsi-Cola and Dr. Pepper bottlers in Central and South Mississippi, 
Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.”

The Hattiesburg plant has 3 production lines, producing cans in all of the take-home multi-packs seen in the market. 
 In addition to the traditional 12oz can, other can sizes will also be produced.  PET (plastic) bottles ranging in size from 
12oz to 2L will also be filled and a line dedicated to food service packaging has been commissioned.

Wis-Pak, with headquarters in Watertown, Wis., was founded in 1969 by a group of independent Pepsi-Cola
 bottlers in order to provide a centralized supply of soft drink products. Production began in 1970. Today, Wis-Pak 
is widely recognized as one of the most successful cooperative companies in the soft drink industry. Its shareholders 
represent 54 Pepsi-Cola franchises. Wis-Pak now operates production facilities in Tennessee, Illinois, Nebraska, 
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Mississippi.

Brown Bottling Group, founded in 1971, is a locally owned family distributor of Pepsi Cola and Dr Pepper products
 throughout central and south Mississippi with locations in Jackson, Hattiesburg, McComb, Meridian and Natchez. 
Brown Bottling Group employs over 400 people.