This Monday, June 25, 2012 photo shows the Coca-Cola logo on the side of a delivery truck in Springfield, Ill. Coca-Cola, the world’s biggest beverage maker, is working with fitness and nutrition experts who suggest its cola as a healthy treat. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) The parent company of the Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the world’s first Coke bottler, will take over Coca-Cola production facilities in Cleveland, Tenn., and northern Georgia as part of Coke’s continued push to refranchise its bottling system.
Coke said Wednesday it has signed new letters of intent with several independent bottling businesses to take on more of Coca-Cola’s Refreshments bottling distribution system in the United States. Coca-Cola Refreshments is Coke’s company-owned bottler.
Under the plans announced today, Coca-Cola United will gain more territory in north and central Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area, Athens, Macon and Rome. It also will acquire production facilities in Montgomery, Ala. and Cleveland, Tenn.
Other letters of intent have been signed with Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, based in Tampa, which will assume bottling territory in southeastern Florida, including Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Miami and West Palm Beach.
Viking Coca-Cola Bottling Company, based in St. Cloud, Minn., will assume territory in portions of northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and a portion of Michigan.
“Together with our bottling partners, we are changing the landscape of our U.S. system,” Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America said today in a statement. “Today’s announcement further advances our efforts to balance national scale and local capability, which will help us significantly increase our leadership and enhance our competitive advantage in the U.S. business.”
Today’s announcement comes three months after the Coca-Cola Company reached agreements in September with three other bottlers for franchise territory changes.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, which was founded by Chattanooga’s J. Frank Harrison, will acquire production facilities in Sandston, Va., and Baltimore and Silver Spring, Md.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United also will acquire the production and distribution facility in New Orleans, La.
Read tomorrow’s Times Free Press for more details.