While massive beverage conglomerates like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo dominate store shelves across America, a handful of regional soda makers still cling fiercely to their independence. These aren’t just brands refusing buyouts on principle. They’re family legacies, local icons, and stubborn reminders that not everything needs to be owned by a multinational corporation to survive.
The craft soda market was valued at nearly 700 million dollars in 2023 and is projected to reach over 1.2 billion by 2032, proving there’s still appetite for alternatives to the corporate giants. Yet staying independent in an industry where consolidation seems inevitable takes more than just good intentions.
Cheerwine: The Southern Cherry Classic Still in Family Hands
Created in 1917, Cheerwine claims to be the oldest continuing soft drink company still operated by the same family. The 107-year-old company is still privately owned and managed by the same founding family, five generations of whom have worked there. That’s not just impressive. It’s practically unheard of in the beverage industry.
L.D. Peeler created Cheerwine in 1917 in Salisbury, North Carolina amid a sugar shortage, using wild cherry flavor that blended well with other flavors. When asked if Cheerwine would consider selling out, CEO Cliff Ritchie’s response was a quick no. He points out that it is rare for a family-owned company to survive past the third generation, much less the fifth.
Boylan Bottling: New York’s Craft Soda Pioneer
Established in 1891, Boylan Bottling is an independent, family-owned brand known for its exceptional craft sodas made in the USA. Operating out of New York City for well over a century, Boylan has watched countless competitors get swallowed up by corporate giants while maintaining its autonomy…