[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO FAYGO BEVERAGES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, Faygo Beverages is part of our Michigan 
tradition, and I rise today to recognize their 100 years of operations.
  Faygo was founded in Detroit on November 4, 1907 as Feigenson 
Brothers Bottling Works by Russian immigrants Ben and Perry Feigenson. 
The original flavors of Faygo, Fruit Punch, Strawberry and Grape, were 
based on cake frosting recipes used by the Feigensons in Russia. That 
is why these, and the flavors they developed later, were and still are 
so unique.
  Throughout the 20th century, Faygo steadily increased its production 
line. They coined the word ``pop,'' because of the sound made when 
opening the bottle and are credited with the spreading of the word 
``pop'' instead of ``soda'' to mean ``soft drink'' in the Midwest.
  The brothers bought their first delivery truck, a 1922 Ford. They 
produced the soda one day, closed the factory the next day, loaded the 
product on a horse drawn wagon, and sold it for three cents or two for 
a nickel. The brand name changed to ``Faygo'' in the 30s, and after 
that, in 1935, the company moved to the current Detroit location.
  To say that we are proud of Faygo is an understatement. For those of 
us in Michigan, we grew up with it. In the 40s, ``The Faygo Kid'' 
appeared on television, with the famous Detroit line, ``Which way did 
he go? Which way did he go? He went for Faaaaaaygo!''. In the 60s, 
Strawberry Soda changed to ``Redpop.'' In the 70s, Faygo became 
pioneers of one way bottles, twist-off caps and warehouse distribution. 
Then there's the ``Faygo Boat Song,'' a memory for another generation. 
That 1970s commercial featured everyday people on a Boblo Island boat 
singing ``Remember when you were a kid? Well, part of you still is. And 
that's why we make Faygo.''
  Madam Speaker, as one who grew up as a kid with thousands of others 
on Faygo pop, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering and 
congratulating this Michigan icon, Faygo Beverages, as it celebrates 
100 years with employees and their families at the Detroit Zoo on 
Sunday, August 5, 2007.

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