In Athens, Alabama, Phillip Stewart, owner of S&Z Grocery, made headlines after taking a principled stand against

certain Pepsi products in his store. When Stewart noticed that bottles of Pepsi and Diet Pepsi were featuring the NFL logo,

he decided to pull them from his shelves — not out of business strategy, but personal conviction.

“I can’t in good conscience sell the product because it does have the logo on it,” Stewart explained. Though aware the decision

could impact sales, he said his beliefs were more important than profit. While acknowledging that the players’ protests

associated with the NFL were meant to raise awareness of social issues, he felt there were better ways to express those concerns.

Only the logo-branded bottles were affected; Stewart continues to sell other Pepsi products. His action sparked conversation

throughout the community, with many customers expressing admiration for his willingness to act according to his values.

The distributor confirmed that the NFL-branded bottles would only remain in circulation through the Super Bowl,

meaning Stewart’s stand would be temporary. Still, the gesture resonated beyond his small-town store — illustrating

how even local business owners can make powerful statements about integrity and conviction through the everyday choices they make.