US Family-Owned Soda Firm Keeps Returnable Glass Bottle Tradition Alive

In an era dominated by plastic packaging, a small, family-run beverage company in the United States is preserving a decades-old tradition of reusable glass bottles.

Twig’s Beverage, based in Wisconsin, continues to sell its drinks in returnable glass containers – a practice that was once standard across the American soft drink industry before plastic packaging became widespread in the 1960s.

Under the system, customers pay a deposit for cases of glass bottles and receive a refund when they return them. The bottles are then cleaned, refilled, and reused, sometimes for decades. At Twig’s, some bottles still in circulation date back to the 1960s and 1970s.

Company vice-president Ben Hartwig said the approach has fostered a strong sense of nostalgia among customers, many of whom have passed down bottle cases through generations.

Founded in 1951 by Floyd Hartwig, the company produces a range of sodas and is known locally for bottling Sun Drop under licence from Keurig Dr Pepper. It remains the last producer of Sun Drop to use returnable glass bottles and one of the few to rely on real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup.

While the company maintains its refill system within its local market, it is also exploring broader expansion across the Midwest. However, bottles sold outside its immediate region are not expected to be returnable, as logistical challenges make returns impractical.

Now marking its 75th anniversary, Twig’s has grown into a small but resilient business, employing around 20 people and generating annual revenues of approximately $6.5 million.

The company is deeply rooted in its local community, hosting annual events and operating a small museum that showcases its history and production process.

Despite its longevity, Twig’s faces ongoing challenges, including fluctuating ingredient costs – particularly sugar – and competition from large multinational beverage brands.

Industry observers note that while global giants dominate the market, many smaller, family-owned beverage companies continue to operate across the US, often maintaining long-standing traditions and regional loyalty.

For Twig’s, the focus remains on sustaining its heritage while gradually expanding its reach, with future generations of the Hartwig family expected to carry the business forward.