If you’ve ever cracked open a cold Pepsi in Syracuse or grabbed an Aquafina at a gas station in the Hudson Valley, there’s a massive chance your drink started its journey at a place with a name that sounds more like a Civil War battlefield or a historical landmark than a high-tech bottling plant. We're talking about Clinton's Ditch Cooperative Co. Honestly, most people in Central New York probably drive past the Pardee Road facility in Cicero without realizing they're looking at one of the most unique business models in the beverage world.
The name itself is a cheeky nod to history. Back in the early 1800s, critics of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton’s ambitious plan to build the Erie Canal mocked the project, calling it "Clinton's Ditch." They thought it was a colossal waste of money. Well, the canal ended up transforming the American economy, and in 1967—exactly 150 years after the canal's groundbreaking—a group of independent Pepsi bottlers decided to reclaim that name for their own ambitious venture.
Why Clinton's Ditch Cooperative Co is Not Your Average Factory
Most people think Pepsi is just one giant corporation that owns every truck and canning line in the country. That's not how it works. The industry is actually built on a network of independent franchises. In the late 60s, a bunch of these independent owners in New York realized that if they pooled their resources, they could build a massive, centralized production hub that none of them could afford on their own.
That’s how the cooperative was born. Instead of having dozens of small, inefficient bottling lines scattered across the state, these members created one "mother ship" in Cicero.
The Joan Crawford Connection
Here is a bit of trivia that usually shocks people: when the facility officially opened in July 1968, the ribbon wasn't cut by some local politician. It was cut by Joan Crawford. Yes, the Academy Award-winning Hollywood legend.
At the time, she was on the board of directors for Pepsi-Cola after her husband, Alfred Steele (the board chairman), passed away. She showed up in Central New York to dedicate the factory alongside the cooperative's first president, Frank G. Staropoli. It was a huge deal for the region. The plant started with just 20 employees and could churn out about 384,000 cans a day. Fast forward to today, and the scale is almost hard to wrap your head around.
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What's Actually Happening Inside the Cicero Plant?
As of 2026, Clinton’s Ditch has grown into a 274,000-square-foot behemoth. They aren't just putting cola in cans anymore. The facility is a high-volume producer for a massive portfolio of brands you see every day.
- Carbonated Soft Drinks: Obviously the heavy hitters like Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Mountain Dew.
- Energy and Teas: They handle Lipton Ice Tea, Brisk, and AMP Energy.
- Water and Seltzer: Aquafina is a huge part of their output, along with various purified waters and seltzers.
- Packaging Variety: They aren't limited to the standard 12oz can. They run lines for various PET bottle sizes and specialized packs.
The business model is actually pretty brilliant. Because it's a cooperative, the "owners" are the independent bottlers (like Geneva Club Beverage or Pepsi of the Hudson Valley). These members get their product from the Ditch and then handle the local distribution in their specific territories. It keeps the local guys competitive against the "company-owned" giants.
The $41 Million Expansion: Why it Matters Right Now
You might have heard some noise recently about a major investment at the site. This isn't just a fresh coat of paint. Clinton's Ditch Cooperative Co is currently navigating a $41 million expansion project.
In a world where supply chains are constantly breaking, staying ahead of the curve is survival. This expansion is reportedly bringing in about 15 new high-tech jobs, but more importantly, it's upgrading the machinery to handle the next generation of beverage packaging. They’ve grown from 20 employees in 1968 to nearly 300 today.
Dealing with the "Bottle Bill" Struggle
It hasn't all been easy sailing. If you talk to the leadership there—people like Thomas Strahle, who has been a vocal advocate for New York bottlers—they’ll tell you that the state's "Bottle Bill" and issues with "transshipment" are constant headaches.
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Transshipment is basically when soda is smuggled in from states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania where there isn't a nickel deposit. It creates a "black market" that hurts local cooperatives like the Ditch. It’s a gritty, unglamorous side of the business that most consumers never see, but it’s a big reason why the cooperative model is so important for these New York businesses to stay afloat.
The "Pepsi Place" Identity
For a long time, the company had a bit of an identity crisis. People in Cicero knew there was a plant there, but "Clinton's Ditch Cooperative Co" doesn't exactly scream "we make Pepsi." A few years ago, they leaned into a rebranding effort, often identifying as "The Pepsi Place." You’ve probably seen their "Road Warrior" trucks on the I-90. They maintain their own fleet, and being located in Central New York gives them a massive logistical advantage. They can hit the entire Northeastern U.S. pretty easily.
Actionable Insights for Local Business and Career Seekers
If you're looking at Clinton's Ditch as more than just a place that makes your favorite drink, here’s the reality of how they operate and what it means for you:
1. For Job Seekers in Central NY
The Ditch is almost always hiring, especially for CDL drivers and production technicians. Because they are an independent cooperative rather than a massive corporate branch, the culture tends to be a bit more stable. They just participated in a major CDL job fair in Syracuse, and with the $41 million expansion finishing up, those technical roles are becoming more specialized.
2. Understanding the Cooperative Advantage
If you’re a business student or owner, the Ditch is a masterclass in "coopetition." These independent bottlers might compete in some areas, but by owning the production facility together, they achieve economies of scale that would be impossible individually.
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3. Navigating New York Regulations
The company is a primary example of how to survive in a high-regulation state. Between the 3.5-cent handling fees for bottle returns and the 80% of unredeemed deposits that go to the state, the Ditch has had to become incredibly efficient. Their success is largely due to their ability to pivot into non-carbonated drinks like Aquafina when soda taxes or health trends shift the market.
4. Location is Everything
Their site on Pardee Road wasn't an accident. It’s positioned perfectly to leverage the same transport advantages the original Erie Canal offered 200 years ago—just with trucks instead of barges.
The next time you see a "Clinton's Ditch" logo on a tractor-trailer, remember it's not just a weird name. It's a 50-plus-year-old experiment in local cooperation that somehow managed to survive the era of corporate consolidation.
Next Steps to Explore:
- Check their official careers page: If you're looking for CDL or manufacturing work, they post directly on the Clinton's Ditch website rather than just generic job boards.
- Visit the Erie Canal Museum: If the "Ditch" history interests you, the museum in downtown Syracuse explains the original 1817 project that gave the company its name.
- Monitor the Syracuse IDA filings: If you're into local economic development, the tax break filings for their recent expansion provide a detailed look at their projected growth through 2027.