Yuma's Pepsi plant a finalist for award

  Lane Affiliated Companies Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Yuma was recognized by Pepsi-Cola North America as one of four finalists for the 2007 Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award.

  Named for PepsiCo's former chairman and founder, it is the highest honor bestowed on PCNA's bottling partners. 

  Lane Yuma was recognized at PCNA's national bottler meeting, where PCNA president Hugh Johnston and Kendall presented a finalist award to CEO David Lane and COO Philip Lane. Three other PCNA bottlers were also acknowledged for the work that made them finalists.

  Two years ago, the plant was presented the Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year award for 2005.

  Bottler of the Year finalists are nominated based on customer service, community support, volume and sales growth, quality standards and performance against the company's strategic imperatives.

  PCNA presents each finalist with a $5,000 Donald M. Kendall Community Grant. The Yuma plant used its grant to make a donation to the Yuma County Library District's "Catch the Reading Bug," an intergenerational summer reading program at all library branches for youths, teens and adults. Its goal is to introduce families to the library and all its varied resources.

  Founded by Ross Lane more than 70 years ago, Lane Affiliated Companies is a family-owned business headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo. In addition to its satellite warehouses in Yuma, Casa Grande and Las Cruces, N.M., the company has production facilities in Colorado Springs and Tucson.

  The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. has announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Lane Affiliated Companies Inc., the eighth largest Pepsi bottler in the United States.

  The transaction is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2008. Financial terms were not disclosed.