Jack’s very first concoction — White Soda.
There wasn’t a restaurant owner Jack didn’t know throughout the Twin Cities.
The founding principle: We care
Behind our tried and true products and services is a 75-year old foundation built on one simple principle: We care.
Since 1945, we’ve relied on good ol’ Minnesota work ethics to build trust and dependability. We work when you do, call us anytime, even on weekend nights. We combine our hometown service and value, with first-rate quality and environmentally- friendly efficiency. And even though we compete against national and larger brands, we’re “The Local Guys.”
Rich tradition of service and value
Jack Kelly moved to Minneapolis from South Dakota in search of the American Dream, at the age of 16. He believed the town’s beverage business was ripe for tapping. His goal: expand the beverage choice available to the local bars and restaurants. With this vision, Jack founded Carbonic Machines in 1945.
Jack initially developed three distinctive post-mix syrups, White Soda, Quinine and Tom Collins, sold to local establishments. As business grew, so did his offerings, from soda mixes and CO2 to refrigeration and ice.
Hometown, personalized customer care
In 1982, Jack passed the baton to his sons. With David and Steven Kelly’s extensive changes to the business in the past 40 years, one thing remains constant to this very day, Jack’s vision of being ‘The local guys,’ and providing friendly, individualized service and value to customers.
Today, the company’s operations are located just one block from where Jack first began. Starting with 3 soda mixes, the Shamrock Group has expanded to distributing over 100 different beverages, including manufacturing our very own MinneSoda and Minnesota Chill products and manufacturing around 120 tons of ice daily.
… and everywhere Jack went, Helen Kelly was sure to go.