Pepsi Distributor Bigfoot Beverages Looks to Compete in the Oregon Craft Beer Market

Word has spread in the Oregon distribution scene that a Pepsi-Cola distributor of Eugene/Bend/coastal areas is getting into beer seeking to provide an alternative to distributor Odom and Point Blank and Columbia. Bigfoot Beverages moves 6.5 million cases per year of soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, so it is safe to say that they know the distribution game. Now with the first two craft breweries added to their portfolio – Springfield, OR’s Hop Valley Brewing and Vail Valley, CO’s Crazy Mountain Brewing – Bigfoot looks to learn the nuances of beer.

Here’s more details laid out in a press release issued by Bigfoot Beverages:

EUGENE, Ore.— A long time local business, well known for distributing Pepsi products, has taken a big step with a new name and new product offerings.

Bigfoot Beverages is the new corporate name for Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Bend, Roseburg, Eugene, Coos Bay and Newport. Northwest Vending and Northwest Coffee Service are also now under the Bigfoot brand. Both have taken on new monikers as Bigfoot Vending and Bigfoot Coffee Service.

“Because our companies share the same values and their products reflect a similar spirit, we feel it is important to bring them all under one local, corporate brand,” said Andy Moore, who is co-president of the company with Eric Forrest. “The name Bigfoot captures the spirit of the varied products we offer, projects the resourceful individualist living in the Northwest, and the rugged and fun legend that Bigfoot provides.”

Moore and Forrest also announced that Bigfoot Beverages would expand its imprint when it begins distributing handcrafted beers brewed by Hop Valley Brewing Company of Springfield, Oregon, and Crazy Mountain Brewery of Vail Valley, Colorado. It is the first time in the company’s history that it has distributed alcoholic beverages.

Hop Valley’s craft beers have an excellent reputation and a growing following. Their beers are brewed with locally grown hops, and Northwest grains and yeast. Their brewmaster has won more than 40 awards for his beers in national and international beer tasting competitions.

Crazy Mountain is the first production brewery in Vail Valley, Colorado. They brew 10 beers, including three seasonal offerings. Bigfoot is the first to distribute Crazy Mountain in Oregon.

Beers from Crazy Mountain will be available immediately, and Bigfoot plans to begin distribution of Hop Valley’s lineup November 1. The company will focus its efforts on Lane County only until January 2013, when they will expand to the other markets they serve.

In addition, Bigfoot has named long-time industry professional Jay Zink to lead the sales and marketing of the company’s craft beer selections. Zink brings Bigfoot more than 30 years of experience in the beer and beverage industry.

“With the growing popularity of local beers, it is the right time for Bigfoot to offer a local distribution solution to this wildly popular craft beer movement” Zink said. “I am pleased to be part of this growing company and look forward to working with customers throughout the area.”

With a new company brand and the addition of a new beverage line to the roster, change is definitely afoot. However, customers and consumers will notice few, if any, changes in how the company conducts its business as Bigfoot Beverages.

“While we are always looking for new opportunities to better serve our customers, Bigfoot is grounded in the original principles established by my family and Andy’s when they founded the companies years ago,” Forrest said. “Bigfoot will continue to offer refreshing beverages, satisfying snacks and excellent customer service.”

For more on Bigfoot Beverages and their history, visit their site here.