Image Source: Five Star Breaktime Solutions
Five Star Breaktime Solutions has announced the closing of an acquisition with Buffalo Rock Company, a prominent Birmingham, Alabama-based Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper bottler and full-line vending operator. Effective today, April 7, 2025, Buffalo Rock has divested its full-line vending operations to Five Star, Canteen North America, and other Canteen franchise operators across Alabama, West Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle.
Buffalo Rock, the nation’s largest single-family, privately-owned Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper bottler, has been family-owned for nearly 125 years. The company has a rich history in retail leadership, beverage innovation, and community support. Established as The Alabama Grocery Company in 1901, Buffalo Rock released its flagship Ginger Ale in 1906 and opened its first full-scale bottling plant in 1922. Years later, the company added full-line vending and other food services to its portfolio, including its first micro market in 2012. The company’s full-line vending operations grew to almost 700 micro markets and over 7,600 vending locations.
Buffalo Rock will maintain its local operations as a Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper bottler with service from all existing franchise sales center locations.
“Buffalo Rock has built a strong and successful full-line vending business over the years, and we are excited to see it transition into the capable hands of Five Star and Canteen—two outstanding organizations that share our commitment to service excellence,” said Matthew Dent, President and CEO of Buffalo Rock Company, in a recent press release. “This strategic partnership allows us to focus on our core beverage business while ensuring our vending customers continue to receive best-in-class service.”
“This transaction is about a strategic alignment transforming two longtime competitors into strategic partners. It will position our two companies around a common goal of providing our customers with a more balanced portfolio of products and services while creating a partnership that enhances future growth for both of us. We look forward to integrating our capabilities into a combined organization that delivers the best breaktime experience in the industry,” said Richard Kennedy, Five Star’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“This move strengthens our ability to invest in the future by enhancing our executional capabilities, expanding and innovating our beverage portfolio, and elevating our brand development efforts,” said David Miller, Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy, Marketing & Brand Development of Buffalo Rock Company. “By sharpening our focus on beverages, we can continue to deliver exceptional products and service to our retail and on-premise customers while driving growth and innovation in the market.”
Five Star will add to its base of business from all or parts of 10 of Buffalo Rock’s 14 franchise sales center locations. The remaining business will be split between the associated local Canteen partners. With this acquisition, Five Star continues to display its commitment to investing in local service, unmatched convenience, and exceptional breaktime experiences.
About Five Star
Five Star Breaktime Solutions, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a premier unattended food and beverage retail solutions provider for employers and other commercial, institutional, and educational locations. Five Star is a leading provider of breakroom markets, full-line vending, pantry, coffee and water services, full-service dining, catering, fresh food production, secured delivery, and sustainable products serving customers in 11 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee. Founded in 1993, Five Star has grown to one of the largest privately held convenience services operators in the United States and is the largest franchise of Canteen, a Compass Group company. Learn more at fivestarbreaktime.com.
About Buffalo Rock
Buffalo Rock Company is the nation’s largest single-family, privately-owned Pepsi® and Keurig Dr Pepper® bottler. The company services more than seven million consumers throughout Alabama, Western Georgia, and the panhandle of Florida. Matthew Dent, CEO and President, leads the fourth-generation Lee-owned company that has been in business for more than 124 years. The company continues to evolve its operations and brand portfolio to meet the needs of the ever-changing beverage consumer. For more information about Buffalo Rock Company, visit buffalorock.com.
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