Giant promotional Pepsi can in front of Pepsi Memphis's office

ABOUT PEPSI-COLA MEMPHIS, MO

Pepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Co. will be celebrating over 95 years of service to you, our customers. Their story began in 1929, when J. Harold and Muriel A. Johnson started their first bottling operation at 204 S. Market in Memphis, MO. They operated under the name of "Memphis Bottling Works" for several years. In 1936 they were granted a Pepsi-Cola franchise. The company incorporated in 1956 and changed its name to "Pepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Company" By 1958 their son, John H. Johnson, Jr., joined them in the business. In 1963, land was purchased for Pepsi's present location. In the fall of 1964, the building was completed and Pepsi moved into its new home at 520 East Grand Avenue. Starting in 1983, John & Gayle Johnson’s family began working in the soft drink business as a third generation bottler. Their children - Mike, Lori and Dana work for the company and serve on the Board of Directors today. What started as a less than five man operation has grown to employ over 38 people serving an eight and a half county area in Missouri and Iowa.

This is the first new Pepsi truck acquired by our company - 1941

This 1929-30 Ford AA truck is in the company fleet. This truck was built to resemble the first route truck (the black and white photo with Pop and Muriel) the company used back in the 1930's. They have added several full depth antique wooden cases to the truck. It can be viewed in the museum.

In 1939, this car was decorated with Pepsi signs and streamers for a contest in a local parade.

A truck used by the company in the 1940's and in this case they used in a parade. Each of the cases of soft drinks were loaded on the truck one at a time. They would slide the cases through the truck and could remove them from either side of the truck.

1939 Chevrolet Truck used by the company until they could purchase a new truck. The truck is parked on East Monroe Street in front of the "Old Plant".

This is a sample of advertising used by Pepsi-Cola back in the later 30's and early 40's.

This is a copy of an ad the company ran in the local paper - The Memphis Reveille in September of 1941.

This is our restored '59 Ford Pickup. You can see it today in our museum and on special occasions it may be in a local parade.

Pictured here are all employees and company vehicles parked in front of our second building. This building was used by our company in the 1940's. The building still stands today and is located on East Monroe Street in Memphis.

Pictured here is the Pepsi Merry Go Round at the Keokuk Home Show being operated by Mike Evans in the late 1950's / early 60's.

This picture was taken in the late 1920's or early 30's in the first bottling plant. The first plant was located east off the Memphis square in an alley. The water source at that time was a well on the now Hopkins Lumber property.

One of Harold and Muriel's first delivery trucks. One of their major brands at the time was Nu Icy. Dated early 30's.