Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/496801
21 Oil Prophets sales manager. Bobby brought many years of experience with Dr. Pepper, as well as the beer industry, and this expertise allowed Greg to shift his focus back to marketing and advertising. Along with the "One Town" sign featuring the Pepsi logo, visitors to "The Friendliest City in the South" are also greeted by a sign incorporating the Luverne name with a retro design of 3 Pepsi bottles. This branding is a small part of what earned this company the prestigious Bottler of the Year award. Bobby Brasher, General Sales Manager, says "It's all about our personnel – they live, work, and service the community." PCBCL is a hometown business employing hometown people. The turnover rate is extremely low; 30% of the employees have been with PCBCL for more than 10 years, and 15% are celebrating 20 or more years. There are also quite a few employees with 30 – 40 years of service, and Bobby is quick to point out that the Bottler of the Year award "really belongs to them. Our employees are good local people who take pride in their work" In addition to the strong and loyal employee base, Greg Crouch feels that the way the service representatives interact with customers is another measure of success. "There is always someone in the convenience store where our people build a relationship. We are coming in to do business. We are more like a neighbor than a supplier. When we enter a convenience store, we want to add value to their location." PCBCL sales reps accomplish this by engagement with retailers. Bobby says, "We find out what needs they have – and determine how we can help them attain goals. We help them increase revenue by increasing foot-traffic. We work hard with these stores because every type of store – convenience store, food service and vending, big box stores, grocery stores, dollar stores – handles product differently. We focus on consumer preference, to make sure the product is in the right place at the right time for shoppers. This also helps our customer focus on the primary business." PCBCL also gives back to the community that has given them so much over the past 100 years. The company has invested in the Luverne City School System with the building of a playground, and also works with 20 other schools within the vicinity. A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held to initiate the building of a new city playground. The company works with the schools on fundraising projects. Greg says that selling Pepsi products enables the schools to raise money for projects that aren't funded such as band uniforms, mascot uniforms, recreational arts, LED signs, lawn mowers – items that you assume are in the schools' budgets, but aren't. The company works with the schools to set goals and sells products to the schools at a discounted rate. The schools then earn money for sales, and the students earn incentives for backpacks, iTunes cards, and other awards. The Company has also set up an Endowment for the Brent and Charlotte Springford Memorial award, which awards scholarships to the University of Alabama. Greg says, "Brent Springford set the path that we are following. He did a fantastic job setting up distribution, franchise rights and more. The work that he put in has given us the opportunities that we have today." In this 100th year of operation, PCBCL plans several events to say "Thanks" to the community that has supported them since John Turner started the business in 1915. PCBCL plans to celebrate "100 Days of Summer" from Memorial Day to Labor Day, by celebrating their Employees their Customers, and their Consumers. P&CMA congratulates this Associate member on the many accolades earned over the years, and for the recognition bestowed by the Beverage Industry.