Food Chain - Issue 193 - April 2023 | Page 84

Nor-Cal Beverage

Nor-Cal Beverage ( Nor-Cal ) is all about making things happen . That ’ s what the company slogan says . Packaging , bottling and canning , labeling , warehousing and logistics – Nor-Cal has it covered , and then some .

Indeed , from initial concept to final completion , when the product proudly leaves the facility to go to market , the Sacramento-headquartered family business has the tools to effortlessly guide customers through every step of the commercial beverage manufacturing process .
Behind the company is the Deary family , whose history has been twinned with the drinks trade for 86 years . In 1937 , Nor- Cal was then known as the Hires Bottling Company of Sacramento , and produced around 25,000 cases of root beer per year . The company was established by Roy ‘ Grant ’ and Margaret Deary , and while their drinks were undoubtedly delicious , they certainly wouldn ’ t have been able to predict just how far their humble business would grow .
Hard work & innovation
Fast forward nearly a century , and the same Deary family runs the fresh-faced Nor-Cal , but instead of producing about 25,000 cases of beverage annually , the rebranded business manufactures more than that figure every day ! Making it happen , indeed .
Those expecting cases upon cases of root beer leaving Nor-Cal plants might be disappointed , however ; the company sold off its traditional soft-drink franchises back in 2007 , altering the company ’ s course for the foreseeable future . Instead , proceeds were invested into retooling numerous production lines for highly sought after beverage lines , such as ready-to-drink teas , juices , fortified and sparkling waters , as well as energy drinks , which Nor-Cal continues to produce today .
If the family hadn ’ t made that bold decision , the business might not have continued on its incredible growth trajectory , maintaining its well-deserved place at the cutting-edge of the fastmoving beverage industry .
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