Coca-Cola: Bottler Extraordinaire

Coca-Cola Co. and Coca-Cola United has just opened a new production and distribution facility in Baton Rouge. The current issue of Beverage Industry Magazine has the full story, with excerpts highlighted here.

Despite the current economy, Coca-Cola invested over $175 million in the facility which currently has two warehouses and four production lines.

As the third largest bottler for the company, Baton Rouge will surely need a lot of sugar and sweeteners. This is sure to please ingredient manufacturers and food distributors alike.

At 781,000 square feet, this formidable facility is a testament to the confidence the company has in its products.

It also sits atop 112 acres, offering room for future expansion.

Claude Nielsen, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United in Birmingham, Ala., is very optimistic and proud to be an integral leader in a product he is so passionate about.

Neilsen states,

"We're optimistic that as we come out of this economic downturn we are going to be stronger than ever.

"The reason for that is we are very focused on improving our capabilities and serving our customers.

"The facility should be concrete evidence of our confidence in this business and the future of our enterprise. It represents a substantial investment."

Seems like a symbiotic relationship exists between Coca-Cola and the southern region that was so acutely impacted by Hurricane Katrina, since the new location is in the vacinity of the old one.

More employment opportunities await the beverage drinkers of Baton Rouge. By 2012, the company plans to operate six production lines at the facility, eventually employing more than 600 people. Three cheers for the local bottler!

And it seems that Coca-Cola's doesn't mind the state funding incentives. According to Darian Chustz, president of Coca-Cola United's Gulf Coast Region and Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.,

"We've been in this town for 103 years now.

"... when it came down to it, based on all the feasablility studies and the infrastructure support that we are going to receive from the state of Louisiana for economic development, we decided to build our new facility close to our existing site in Baton Rouge..."

In addition to Coca-Cola, the new facility produces Dr Pepper, Big Red products, and Powerade, and will soon produce Vitaminwater.

As far as immediate plans for company growth, Chustz reinforces, "We're always exploring new opportunities... but we are focused and determined to do what we do best, and that's produce, sell and distribute Coca-Cola."

Cheers to another 103 years of Coca-Cola products!