The Coca-Cola bottling system grew up with roots deeply planted in local communities.   As was true a century ago, strong locally based relationships between Coca-Cola bottlers, customers and communities are the foundation on which the entire business grows.

The Coca-Cola system is not a single entity from a legal or managerial perspective and does not own or control all bottling partners. Bottling partners such as Coca-Cola UNITED, the second largest privately held bottler in the United States and third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products.  We work together as a system to provide the greatest brands for every occasion and make a positive impact in every local market where we live and work.

The Coca-Cola Company (“Company”) is a global business that operates on a local scale, in every community where we do business. We are able to create global reach with local focus because of the strength of the Coca-Cola system, your local bottler, which comprises our a system of more than 250 bottling partners worldwide and 700,000 Coca-Cola System Associates.  

While many view The Company as simply “Coca-Cola,” our system operates through multiple local channels. The Coca-Cola Company manufactures and sells concentrates, beverage bases and syrups to bottling operations, owns the brands and is responsible for consumer brand marketing initiatives.

Bottling partners, your “local” Coca-Cola bottler, manufactures, packages, merchandises and distributes the final branded beverages to our customers and vending partners, who then sell our products to consumers.  These local bottlers work closely with customers — grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, movie theaters and amusement parks, among many others — at a local level to build relationships and execute localized strategies developed in partnership with The Company.

Coca-Cola UNITED has been building relationships with our associates, consumers, customers and communities for over 100 years.   The foundation of all relationships are our core values, which are …

Quality 

. . . We are committed to the highest quality standards for the products that are enjoyed by our consumers and the service we provide our customers.
. . . We don’t compromise our standards and we don’t take shortcuts.

Excellence 

. . . We will always strive for excellence.
. . . We will always work to exceed expectations.
. . . By any measurement, we intend to be the undisputed leader; second place is unacceptable.

Integrity 

. . . is the foundation of all enduring relationships and every successful business.
. . . We will always do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Respect 

We respect and trust our
. . . associates and colleagues, as we work together to reach our full potential and to ensure that each associate has a productive, rewarding and fulfilling career.
. . . consumers, who rely on our quality products.
. . . customers, who rely on our partnership and excellent service.
. . . communities, which we serve with a great sense of civic responsibility and good will.
. . . owners, who have entrusted their capital and resources to our care;

The Coca-Cola Company and local Coca-Cola bottlers share an enduring commitment to work together to …

• build sustainable communities,
• focus on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint,
• support active, healthy living,
• create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates,
• create jobs, and,
• enhance the economic development of the communities where we live and work.

Find out more about  …

History of Bottling

Supplier and Customer Partnerships

Our Promise for Transparency