Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED Announces Close of Transaction With The Coca-Cola Company for the Greater New Orleans, Louisiana Territory

New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1, 2016 – Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. (“Coca-Cola UNITED”), headquartered in Birmingham, AL, announced today, it closed the transaction with The Coca-Cola Company expanding the company’s West Region territory into the Greater New Orleans, Louisiana territory.

This transaction follows Coca-Cola UNITED’s announcement in which it signed Letters of Intent with The Coca-Cola Company for the acquisition of eight Coca-Cola territories in the states of Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  Collectively, consistent with previous acquisitions, all parties are committed to a smooth transition with minimal disruption for Coca-Cola associates, consumers and customers.

“Since 1902, Coca-Cola has had a rich history of community engagement and customer service throughout South Louisiana and the Northshore,” said Rocky Weigand, Director of the Crescent City Division in the West Region of Coca-Cola UNITED.  “As a part of Coca-Cola UNITED, we are committed to our local operating business model which supports strong customer service and community involvement.  Believing in the growth potential of South Louisiana, we have created 82 new local jobs above our current workforce of 702 associates serving the Greater New Orleans areas.  This is an exciting time for our teams, Coca-Cola UNITED and the communities in which we live and work.”

“We are proud that Coca-Cola has deep roots in our community having served Jefferson Parish and the surrounding metropolitan area since 1902,” said Jefferson Parish  President Mike Yenni.  “We are very excited to welcome Coca-Cola UNITED to our community and look forward to future cooperative endeavors.  In addition to the creation of 82 local jobs, their planned capital investments show their confidence in the growth potential of doing business in Jefferson Parish and southeast Louisiana. The additional investment in jobs and capital speaks well for Jefferson Parish as a place to invest, to work and to raise a family” he said.

Consistent with previous successful transactions, all parties will work collaboratively to benefit from more rational and contiguous operating territories; an improved, more integrated information technology platform across bottlers; and a new beverage agreement that supports the Coca-Cola system’s evolving U.S. operating model.

Crescent City Coca-Cola Bottling Company began operations as a division of Coca-Cola UNITED on March 31, 2016. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.:

Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc. is the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States and the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler employing more than 5,700 employees. Coca-Cola UNITED currently refreshes customers, consumers and communities in 35 territories across 7 southeastern states with sparkling and still brands for every occasion.  Engaged principally in the production, marketing and distribution of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani water, POWERADE, vitaminwater and many more under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company and other soft drink manufacturers.

With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, Coca-Cola UNITED is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit us at www.cocacolaunited.com.

Contacts:

Kel Villarrubia
Crescent City Division
kelvillarrubia@ccbcu.com
C: 504-234-0798
O: 504-818-7360

Carrie Crane
Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.
pamelaneal@ccbcu.com
O: 205-849-4683
C: 205-212-4068