Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED Announces Closing of Transaction with The Coca-Cola Company for Scottsboro Coca-Cola

Scottsboro, AL, May 27, 2014 – Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, headquartered in Birmingham, AL, announces the close of the transaction with The Coca-Cola Company expanding the company’s territory into the Scottsboro, AL area.   Scottsboro Coca-Cola, now under the umbrella of Coca-Cola UNITED, began operating the new territories acquired in the transaction effective May 24, 2014. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“This is an incredibly important chapter in Scottsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company’s 102 year history,” said Rodney Putman, Sales Center Manager, Scottsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company. “We are very fortunate to be part of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, a company that has a local operating model.  This means that we are responsible for serving our local consumers and customers, and as importantly, supporting our communities.”

“This transaction follows The Coca-Cola Company’s announcement last year, in which it signed Letters of Intent to grant new, expanded territories to five U.S. bottlers: Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED Inc., Swire Coca-Cola USA, Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country and Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works Inc,” said Claude Nielsen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

“Together with Coca-Cola UNITED, we believe a strong franchise system is critical to our success and achieving our 2020 Vision, said Sandy Douglas, Group President, Coca-Cola North America. With this announcement we continue our efforts to create a more contemporary, agile and customer-focused operating model.”

“The Scottsboro area is pleased to welcome Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED to our city. With the announced addition of new employees and a tradition of community involvement, the city looks forward to many years of partnership with Scottsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company and their parent company, Coca-Cola Bottling UNITED,” said Melton Potter, mayor of Scottsboro, Alabama.

Scottsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company will become a part of the newly formed Tennessee Valley Division of Coca-Cola UNITED. This division includes the Chattanooga area in Tennessee and locations in the North Georgia area to include Dalton, Summerville, Ringgold, Rossville, and Fort Oglethorpe. Tennessee Valley Division Vice-President, Darren Hodges, stated, “We are pleased to include Scottsboro Coca-Cola Bottling Company into the Coca-Cola UNITED family. We share a common desire to deliver the greatest brands in the beverage industry to consumers in the areas we call home.”

Currently, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED has locations in Alabama and five other southeastern states. Coca-Cola UNITED, founded in 1902, is committed to their employees, customers and communities.

UNITED acquisition of Scottsboro and Dalton territories (yellow)

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.:

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., founded in 1902, is the third largest Coca-Cola bottling company in the United States headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Coca-Cola UNITED currently operates in the following locations: Augusta, Ga.; Baton Rouge, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Brunswick, Ga.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Cullman, Ala.; Gulfport, Miss.; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Lafayette, La.; Lake Charles, La.; McComb, Miss.; McRae, Ga.; Milledgeville, Ga.; Oxford, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Scottsboro, Ala.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Statesboro, Ga.; Waycross, Ga.; and West Alabama.

Coca-Cola UNITED is engaged principally in the production, marketing and distribution of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani water, POWERADE and other beverages under exclusive franchises from The Coca-Cola Company and other soft drink manufacturers.  For more information, visit www.cocacolaunited.com.