Coca-Cola UNITED to Invest $5 Million to Expand Warehouse and Distribution Capabilities on Birmingham Campus

CONTACT:

Linda M. Sewell [email protected] 205-873-8673

Embargoed For Release - 5:30 p.m. September 15

Coca-Cola UNITED to Invest $5 million to expand warehouse and distribution capabilities on Birmingham Campus

Birmingham, Ala. (September 15, 2020) – Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (UNITED), announced today that it will be investing $5 million to repurpose its production facility as additional warehouse and loading space to optimize its distribution system, better serve customers, and provide updated fleet solutions that benefit associates.

“Our business has grown and changed dramatically over the past several years, and in order to serve our customers at the highest levels in the future, our Birmingham campus needs additional warehouse and loading space, along with modernized distribution processes and an updated fleet,” said John Sherman, president and CEO, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

“As we look at our long-term strategy for our company, Birmingham must be in a position to lead the way, and we are prepared to continue investing in our home market in the future,” he added.

To accomplish these goals, UNITED made the decision to convert its Birmingham manufacturing operations into additional warehouse and loading space at the end of this year. Production will move to other UNITED plants in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

UNITED’s goal is to retain all employees, either in new roles in Birmingham or at one of the company’s other facilities throughout the southeast.

“For more than 100 years, Birmingham Production has been a cornerstone of the Coca-Cola UNITED legacy, thanks to the dedication and commitment of our associates,” said Sherman. “We will work with our associates to help them find new opportunities to stay a part of our Coca-Cola UNITED family.”

Currently, Coca-Cola UNITED employs approximately 850 associates in Birmingham, an increase of more than 200 positions since 2014.

Stand UNITED

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler in North America and the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the U.S. Coca-Cola UNITED has approximately 10,000 associates located in more than 60 facilities across six southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee). Since 2014, Coca-Cola UNITED has grown its employment in Alabama by more than 47 percent.

Historically significant franchises within our Coca-Cola UNITED family include Chattanooga, the world’s first Coca-Cola bottler; Atlanta, home of the worldwide Coca-Cola System; and Columbus, Georgia, development site of the original Coca-Cola formula.

Coca-Cola UNITED is engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of a diverse portfolio of leading sparkling (Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coke Zero Sugar®, AHA®, Dr Pepper®, Sprite® and Fanta®) and still (smartwater®, Dasani®, POWERADE®, BODYARMOR®, Fairlife®, Gold Peak®, Monster® and Minute Maid®) non-alcoholic brands under exclusive franchise agreements principally with The Coca-Cola Company® and Keurig Dr Pepper®.

For 118 years, Coca-Cola UNITED has remained true to its foundational core values of: Quality, Excellence, Integrity and Respect. Local relationships, personalized customer service, and strong community engagement have been the foundation of our business for more than a century. Each year, millions of dollars are invested in our local communities, supporting education, community development, sustainability and nonprofit organizations that empower and impact those in need.