Gerry Pencer Soda King
On My Walk: Gerry Pencer – The Man Who Bottled a Canadian Soft Drink Legacy
Pardes Shalom Cemetery (Garden of Peace), Vaughan, Ontario
On my walk through the serene grounds of Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Vaughan, I came across the grave of a man whose bold vision changed the soft drink industry not only in Canada, but around the world — Gerry Pencer.
Born in Montreal, Gerry was a natural entrepreneur. Early on, he ran the popular Montreal restaurant Curly Joe’s, moved into the meat-packing business in Calgary, and later found success in the investment world of both Calgary and Toronto.
But his most remarkable chapter began in his 40s, when his family invited him to take the reins of a struggling beverage company his father had started in the 1950s — Cott Beverages.
That company’s origin began with Gerry’s father, Henry Pencer, who, during a trip to New Hampshire, fell in love with the unique flavours of a local soft drink brand. He contacted the owner, Solomon Cott of New York State, and acquired Canadian rights to the brand.
For years, Cott limped along, a small player overshadowed by soft drink giants. But Gerry saw opportunity where others didn’t. In 1990, he made a strategic move to acquire RC Cola, a sleeper favourite many claimed tasted better than Coke or Pepsi. Soon after, he struck gold when David Nichol, president of President’s Choice at Loblaws, came calling. The result: Cott’s partnership with Loblaws launched them into the big leagues — supplying private-label beverages across Canada and beyond.
In just a few short years, Cott Corporation became the world’s largest private-label soft drink maker.
But Gerry Pencer’s greatest legacy wasn’t just commercial success. In 1997, Gerry was diagnosed with a brain tumour. True to his spirit, he responded by creating something lasting — the Gerry & Nancy Pencer Brain Tumor Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. To this day, the centre is internationally recognized for its patient care, research, and support for those facing brain cancer.
Gerry Pencer died on February 3, 1998, in Toronto. He was just 52 years old.
1945-1998
