Harbor Pacific Bottling, Inc.: A Legacy of Growth and Innovation
Harbor Pacific Bottling, Inc. was established in 1957 when Willis (Bill) G. Martin, along with his father Paul Martin, his uncle Norvel Martin, and business partner Herb Gedney, purchased the Pepsi-Cola franchise from Louis de Moise. At just 23 years old, Bill, with limited financial resources, borrowed $500 from his life insurance policy to make the down payment, with the promise to pay the balance as he earned money managing the business. Bill’s previous experience at The Dalles Soda Works, the Pepsi-Cola franchise in his hometown of The Dalles, Oregon, helped prepare him for this new venture.
When the franchise was acquired, it included a bottling line that produced approximately 50,000 cases of soft drinks annually. In addition to Pepsi-Cola, Harbor Pacific also sold allied brands such as Orange Crush, Dad’s Root Beer, Canada Dry, L & E Flavors, and Teem.
From the start, Harbor Pacific embraced innovation to thwart the competition. The company was the first bottler in the Northwest to introduce Pepsi in 16-ounce bottles, and the first in the U.S. to sell Pepsi in half-gallon bottles. Today, Harbor Pacific’s dedication to innovation, aggressive promotion, and product merchandising remains one of its core strengths.
In 1969, Harbor Pacific Bottling moved to a location on Simpson Avenue after Bill and his partners purchased the 7UP Bottling Company from Orville Goeres. Prior to the move, the plant operated on State Street in Aberdeen. The acquisition of 7UP—which at the time sold as many cases as Pepsi-Cola—also added Hires Root Beer and Squirt to the brand portfolio.
Throughout the company’s history, significant milestones have shaped its growth. Additional blockbuster brands were added over the decades including: Mountain Dew (1965), Dr. Pepper (1975), Sunkist Orange (1980), Mug Root Beer (1981), Lipton and Starbucks ready to drink beverages (1993 & 1997 respectively), Ocean Spray and Gatorade (2007).
1957
WITH THE FINANCIAL HELP FROM HIS FATHER AND UNCLE, BILL MARTIN, ALONG WITH FAMILY FRIEND AND WWII PILOT HERB GEDNEY, FORMED HARBOR PACIFIC BOTTLING, INC. AND SETUP SHOP ON STATE STREET IN ABERDEEN
1960
LOCAL SPONSORSHIP OF MISS GRAYS HARBOR PAGEANT HELPED MANY YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP AND MATURE WHILE BUILDING THE PEPSI BRAND.
1964
BILL MARTIN WAS AN AGGRESSIVE AND INNOVATIVE MARKETER PARTNERING WITH LOCAL MARKETS TO BUILD THE BEVERAGE BUSINESS.
1965
IN 1965, MOUNTAIN DEW WAS INTRODUCED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS DRESSED TO THE HILLBILLY THEME OF "YAHOO MOUNTAIN DEW".
1969
7UP BOTTLING COMPANY WAS PURCHASED IN 1969 AND HPB MOVED TO 3102 SIMPSON AVENUE IN HOQUIAM- ALONG WITH 7UP THIS ADDED SQUIRT TO THE PORTFOLIO OF PRODUCTS
1973
HARBOR PACIFIC WAS THE FIRST IN THE US TO FILL 64 OUNCE PEPSI BOTTLES PRODUCED AT A BREAKNECK SPEED OF 17 BOTTLES PER MINUTE.
1975
IN 1975, DR. PEPPER, THE POWER HOUSE BRAND FROM TEXAS AND OLDEST SOFT DRINK IN THE BUSINESS WAS INTRODUCED.
1980
IN 1980, SUNKIST ORANGE AND MUG ROOT BEER BRANDS WERE ADDED TO THE TOP STABLE OF BRANDS IN THE AREA.
1983
IN 1983, BILL, ALONG WITH OTHER LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS JOINED FORCES TO INSTALL THE FIRST CAN PLANT FOR THEIR PRODUCTS, COLUMBIA BEVERAGE WAS FORMED.
1983
SEEING CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE FRANCHISE, BILL MARTIN BUILT A NEW WAREHOUSE IN LONG BEACH, WA.
1997
CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF INNOVATIVE MARKETING, TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY, HPB HIRED THE PEPSI SKYWRITING PLANE WHICH HELPED THEM SELL A RECORD 120,000 CASES IN AUGUST 1997.
1998
IN 1998, BILL MARTIN OFFICIALLY RETIRES BUT KEEPS HIS HANDS ON THE BUSINESS AS HE MANAGES HIS FARM IN ELMA.
2000
FIESTA FOOD SERVICES (OUR FULL SERVICE VENDING AND MICRO-MARKET COMPANY) IS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
2002
WITH THE CONTINUED PROLIFERATION OF PRODUCTS AND GROWTH IN THE FULL-LINE VENDING BUSINESS, A NEW 45,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE WAS CHRISTENED 2002 IN ELMA.
2006
IN 2006, PEPSI NORTHWEST BEVERAGES WAS CREATED JOINING PEPSI FORCES IN WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO AND CALIFORNIA TO FOUND AN ENTITY PRODUCING OVER 50 MILLION CASES PER YEAR.
2017
SHAWN AND TIM MARTIN PURCHASE HARBOR PACIFIC TO ENSURE THE FAMILY OPERATED TRADITION CONTINUES.
Additionally, in the mid-1970s, Bill bought out his partners, becoming the sole owner of the business. And around this time, he helped form Columbia Beverage to produce 12-ounce cans, which were emerging as a popular packaging option. In 1983, Columbia Bottlers was created to modernize bottling lines for its members, including Harbor Pacific, which had ceased its own production and began sourcing bottles from Chehalis.
Columbia Bottlers and Columbia Beverage operated independently in Tumwater until 1989 when they merged into Columbia Beverage Company, which was co-owned by ten Pepsi-Cola bottlers from Washington and Idaho. Columbia grew into one of the most innovative production centers in the Northwest, producing 20 million cases annually for members and external customers. In 2006, Columbia Beverage joined forces with other production centers in the Northwest to form Pepsi Northwest Beverages, LLC. This collaboration brought together franchises from Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, allowing for greater efficiencies and service advantages. Pepsi Northwest Beverages now produces over 50 million cases annually across two production centers in Tumwater, and Mt. Angel, Oregon.
In 1998, Bill Martin retired, while his two sons, Tim and Shawn, assumed leadership roles within the company. Tim currently serves as President and General Manager, while Shawn is Operations Manager, Vice President, and General Manager for Fiesta Food Service, its affiliated full-line vending and micro-market company. In November 2002, Harbor Pacific expanded with the opening of a 45,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Elma, enabling the company to meet growing consumer demands.
In 2017, Tim and Shawn acquired full ownership of Harbor Pacific, purchasing their parents’ and siblings’ shares. Under their leadership, the company remains committed to long-term growth and financial prosperity, driven by a focus on superior customer service, brand development, and innovative programs. Harbor Pacific recognizes that its success is built on a dedicated and well-trained workforce and strives to create a culture that fosters teamwork, creativity, hard work, and excellence.
