Nackard Pepsi Named PepsiCo’s 2025 Donald M. Kendall North America Bottler of the Year

PURCHASE, N.Y., September 29, 2026 - PepsiCo North America has named Nackard Pepsi of Flagstaff, AZ its 2025 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 honor independent PepsiCo bottlers across the United States and Canada who demonstrate standout performance, execution, leadership and community involvement.

This year, the award was presented to Palmer Nackard, President of Nackard Pepsi, and his team, by PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta, and PepsiCo North America CEO, Ram Krishnan, at an awards ceremony held on Thursday, September 24 in New York City.

After being named a Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year finalist for three consecutive years, Nackard Pepsi earned the top honor this year, a testament to its sustained excellence across business performance, people development, and community impact. Through consistent growth and strong execution, Nackard Pepsi has strengthened its position in a competitive landscape while building deep relationships with a diverse portfolio of customers spanning higher education, recreation, entertainment, tourism, and gaming. Beyond the marketplace, the team is equally recognized for its commitment to sustainability and its active support of local organizations and community events throughout Northern Arizona, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner both in business and in the communities it serves.

"Nackard Pepsi continues to set the standard for excellence across our bottling system," said John Short, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, M&A & Franchise, PepsiCo Beverages U.S. "Their ability to grow the total PepsiCo portfolio, deepen customer partnerships and consistently deliver results across multiple markets is a clear reflection of the team's focus, discipline and commitment - and we're grateful for their partnership."

"To be named Bottler of the Year after three consecutive finalist nominations is incredibly meaningful for our entire team," said Palmer Nackard, President of Nackard Pepsi. "We've always taken pride in showing up for our customers, supporting our communities and building a business our associates are proud of, and I think this recognition is a testament to the people who make that possible every day."

Additionally, honored as 2025 Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year finalists were: Bernick's of Duluth, Minnesota, Browning Harvey Ltd. of Newfoundland and Labrador Canada, Gross & Jarson Pepsi of Hamilton, Ohio, and Pepsi of Worcester & Windham of Massachusetts.

About Nackard Pepsi

A commitment to quality products, exceptional service and giving back to the community are the foundation of Nackard Pepsi, Northern Arizona's leading beverage distributor for more than 80 years. The company - a two-time recipient of PepsiCo's prestigious Donald M. Kendall "Bottler of the Year" award in 2025 and 2002 - is now under the leadership of its third generation with President Palmer Nackard, grandson of founders Fred and Monica Nackard. Today, Nackard Pepsi offers a full range of carbonated beverages, energy drinks, juice drinks, kombucha, mixers, coffee, tea, sports fuel and water products for venues and partners across Northern Arizona. A committed community leader, the bottler also contributes to over 450 local philanthropic causes and organizations each year, and takes its role in protecting the environment seriously, with sustainability initiatives ranging from recycling and electric vehicles to collaboration with partners to reduce environmental impact. Learn more at nackard.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 $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, 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 drinks, 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 places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.