Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck
Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck

1924-2024: Celebrating 100 Years of Bergey’s

A Moment to Celebrate 100 Years

So what do Bergey’s, Wheaties, Milky Way and IBM all have this in common?  They all launched in 1924!

That’s 100 years in business – quite an accomplishment. 

 

As with anything for the Bergey Family, its celebration of 100 years in business has been a labor of love and a lifetime of gratitude. Statistically, only 12% of family owned and operated businesses are still viable in the third generation, with only 3% of all family businesses operating at the fourth-generation level and beyond. 

Bergey’s is now in its 100th year with fourth generation leadership. Not only that, but there are also fifth generation family members working in the business and learning from past generations.

Bergey's Then and Now Map
Bergey Family Nov 2023

~ The Bergey Family, November 2023

My great grandfather started Bergey’s in 1924 and since that time we have been guided by the simple phrase “we treat you like we want to be treated.” This approach to customers has served us well all these years and will never change. As a fourth generation family member, it’s now my turn to guide our continued growth. I know from my years of experience that taking care of customers, beyond their expectations, is the key to our success.

Many of the celebrations have been internal, thanking and celebrating the team members that have been dedicated to driving the business forward. We are fortunate to have a very tenured team, from 45+ years to our newest team members. Through many obstacles and challenges, celebrations and successes, it is safe to say everyone looks forward to many more years ahead.

kickoff-100-trucks CROPPED

~ Bergey Corp Kickoff, Febraury 2024

We also want to send out a heartfelt and humbled THANK YOU to all our customers and business partners throughout our journey. Without your trust and confidence, we could not have reached this milestone. 

We want to continue to make you feel valued, so you continue to make us your first choice. Whether it’s commercial trucks, tires, cars and light trucks, parts, service, fuel or body repairs, we are driven to serve by treating you the way we ourselves want to be treated. It’s not just a catch phrase to us. It’s our mission,  it’s who we are.

Driven to Serve: The 100-Year History of Bergey’s

Founder Norman L. Bergey began this journey in 1924 with an auto repair shop started in an old carriage garage in Franconia, Pennsylvania. This same footprint is now the site of the company corporate headquarters. 

The first vehicle franchise was started in 1967 with FWD Trucks, offering 24 hour service in the original 20-bay truck garage.

Bergey’s quickly added the Volvo badge to their offerings in 1977 and continued to grow from there. 

FWD-1967

~ Murray Aldefer – Bergey’s first Vehicle Salesman, 1967

1971 FWD

~ 1971 FWD sold to Franconia Township

As you can imagine, there is a rich history to the Bergey’s business and family. With closets and basements and attics filled with archived treasures of 100 years of business, the family joined forces with Jamie Allebach to create a history book chronicling the family and the business. Jamie has a deep passion for local history. He is local to the Franconia area and has grown up around Bergey’s, so the opportunity to capture their story was inspiring. After over a year of interviews and meetings and writing, the final Driven to Serve: The 100-Year History of Bergey’s was put to press and presented to employees, family members and community partners to enjoy. 

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Book-cover

You can read the full story with your own copy of our book Driven To Serve: The 100-Year History of Bergey’s.

The Road Ahead

Our journey has been an incredible adventure, having evolved far beyond what Norman Bergey could have ever imagined. What does the future hold for Bergey’s? 

  • We will put every effort and faith and hope into remaining a leader in the communities in which we live and work, providing the highest level of customer service at every opportunity.  
  • Each generation strives to follow in the footsteps of those who came before them, to carry on the legacy – to be Driven to Serve.
  • We are committed to protecting and strengthening the company culture by living our values – to be Accountable, have Integrity, be Committed, have Passion and most of all, be a Faithful steward. 

We are thankful for our customers, our business partners, our communites  and our team members, and are excited with the opportunities to come as we look toward a new future.

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