A look at what happened in Selma 2019: Pepsi celebrates 65 years

Cheyenne Bradford, vice president and director of operations of Pepsi in Selma, shows off photos of the company’s historic moments over the past 65 years in the city. He started out as a salesman on a route truck and will have 41 years with the company this September. Photo by Fred Guarino.

Pepsi celebrated 65 years of operations in Selma iJuly with free hot dogs, soft drinks, games and a live broadcast by Dixie Country. 

The building at 1400 West Highland Ave. was constructed in 1954 and was outfitted with mixing and bottling equipment as well as a warehouse and office space. The company operated as a bottling plant until the late 1970s and now serves as a distribution center. 

Pepsi in Selma was started by Leon Seymour along with his partner Bob Hagler. The plant continued to operate under the leadership of Leon Seymour’s son, John Seymour, and now under John’s son, Gordon Seymour. 

Cheyenne Bradford, vice president and director of operations, said the Selma Pepsi operation boasts several employees who have more than 30 years of service with the company. 

“We do a lot of things for the community,” Bradford said. “We’re involved in just about everything that goes on. And that’s a good thing. We’re involved with all the schools.”

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