About

Kristen Distributing Company was founded in 1930 by Ambrose Kristen, three years before the repeal of Prohibition. Ambrose immigrated from Germany to Galveston, Texas in the late 1800’s with his father, who passed away on the voyage. Only 16 years old and left with a few tools and knowledge, he set up a wheelwright business in Shelby, Texas. In 1930, at the age of 62, he purchased Bellville Bottling Works, later named Kristen Distributing. There they manufactured and distributed soft drinks like Frosty, Nesbitt, 7-Up, and Dr. Pepper.