Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2015

COASTNOTES
Allen Beverages named
Bottler of the Year
story by Lynn Lofton
Allen Beverages, a third-generation family-owned business was named PepsiCo’s Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year. The award was presented to Allen Beverages CEO and President Drew Allen during
a ceremony in Kissimmee, Fla., by PepsiCo North America Beverages.
“We’ve weathered more than a few storms here in Gulfport,” Allen said. “This award is a great testament to the resiliency and tenacity of our people, our customers and our community, with whom my family and I are honored to share it.”
Allen Beverages was founded in August 1947 by Cleve Allen, a former Navy lawyer. It began as Spur Bottling Company with a Canada Dry franchise for the six southernmost counties in Mississippi. The delivery fleet consisted of one Army surplus truck which made its first delivery in
September 1947, one day before the
1947 hurricane. The Nesbitt Orange
brand was added in January 1948
and in 1955 the Pepsi-Cola franchise
was obtained. In 1987, the company
moved from Hewes Avenue to its
present location on Dedeaux Road.
Allen Beverages
13300 Dedeaux Road, Gulfport 228.831.4343 www.allenbeverages.com
Raising funds for local children
story by Lynn Lofton
December 12 is the date for B.E. Fit’s second Holiday Hustle which begins at Run-N-Tri in Gulfport with registration at 8 a.m. and the run at 9 a.m. The 5K and fun run benefits Rett’s Syndrome and childhood cancer.
“We’re raising funds for two local children and awareness of these illnesses,” said event organizer Brantley Ellison. “It’s my end-of-year thing to give back to the community with 100 percent of the funds raised.”
There was good participation last year and Ellison expects approximately 200 this year. “We want to raise as much as we can so we give good medals to get people there to spend their money,” he said. “We’re going to have refreshments, awards, T-shirts and Santa!”
A personal trainer, Ellison works out of B.E. Fit and Cycology Fitness which moved on December 1 to One80 Fitness in D’Iberville.
B.E. Fit and Cycology Fitness
10598 D’Iberville Boulevard, D’Iberville 228.223.1997
Run-N-Tri
9138 Carl Leggett Road, Gulfport 228.604.2227
22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2015
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