COCA-COLA UNITED Announces Closing of Transactions With The Coca-Cola Company for Montgomery, Ala., Production Facility And Equipment Refurbishment Center in Metro Atlanta

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Nov. 25, 2016 – Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED (“UNITED”), Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, announced today that it has closed transactions with The Coca-Cola Company for a production facility in Montgomery, Ala., and an Equipment Refurbishment Center in metro Atlanta. UNITED will begin operating both sites Nov. 26, 2016. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Montgomery Coca-Cola Production

The Montgomery Coca-Cola Production facility, located at 300 Coca-Cola Road, will produce approximately 25 million cases of the many beverages making up UNITED’s portfolio, which includes soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, milk drinks, energy drinks and teas. The facility employs 120 employees and will supply the Montgomery Coca-Cola sales and distribution facility, as well as UNITED’s facilities in Dothan, Evergreen and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and West Point, Ga.

The production facility expands UNITED’s presence in Montgomery. UNITED began operating the Montgomery Coca-Cola sales and distribution facility in 2014. Through these agreements, over 450 local associates in Montgomery have been added to the UNITED Family.

“Coca-Cola UNITED is proud to take this next step in growing our Montgomery presence,” said John Sherman, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED. “Together with our sales and distribution operations, this state-of-the-art production facility will help us better serve our customers and communities in the important River Region. We are excited to have our new Montgomery associates join the UNITED Family.”

“Montgomery couldn’t be more pleased that Coca-Cola UNITED continues to invest in our area,” said Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange. “This company has spent the last 100 years serving its customers and cultivating strong business and community relationships. They are a great corporate citizen”

UNITED’s operation of the Montgomery Coca-Cola Production facility is part of The Coca-Cola Company’s larger efforts to build a stronger, more streamlined production system for the United States through the formation of a National Product Supply System, or NPSS. The NPSS is overseen by the National Product Supply Group, or NPSG, which was formed to administer key product supply activities for member bottlers in order to strengthen the U.S. Coca-Cola production system.

“What a great day this is for Coca-Cola UNITED and our entire community. We are certainly proud to count an organization of this caliber among our business partners,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean. “Coca-Cola UNITED has once again made a significant contribution to the economic development of the River Region by choosing to invest in Montgomery and our local citizens.”

“Since 2014, we have continued to build upon and enjoy the positive impacts resulting from a strong and enduring relationship with our long-time business and community partner,” said Montgomery Chamber Board Chairman A. Bruce Crawford. “As the Montgomery Coca-Cola Production facility begins operating under the UNITED leadership, we are excited that UNITED has chosen to invest in Montgomery and our local citizens working at the production facility.”

In addition to the Montgomery Coca-Cola Production facility, UNITED currently operates four other production facilities in the southeast United States. They are in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Birmingham, Ala. As announced in December 2015, UNITED plans to acquire three additional production facilities, which are College Park and Marietta, Ga., and Cleveland, Tenn., in 2017.

Equipment Refurbishment Center in Atlanta

UNITED also announced a closing with The Coca-Cola Company for the Equipment Refurbishment Center, or ERC, on Boulder Ridge Drive in metro Atlanta. The 140,000 square-foot facility currently employs 45 associates. The ERC will service an estimated 35,000 vending machines, coolers and fountain units for 10 franchise territories in north and central Georgia.

The acquisition of the ERC follows The Coca-Cola Company’s announcement that UNITED will assume additional territories in north and central Georgia, including the metro Atlanta area, in 2017.
About Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Inc., founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States and the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler, with approximately 6,000 associates. Coca-Cola UNITED currently refreshes customers, consumers and communities in 36 territories across seven southeastern states with more than 675 sparkling and still brands for every occasion, including some 200 no- or low-calorie options. UNITED is engaged principally in the production, marketing and distribution of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani water, POWERADE, vitaminwater and many more brands 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, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development and infrastructure of the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit us at www.cocacolaunited.com