Dear Fellow Coca-Cola UNITED Associates:
What an exciting week this has been! As you know, on Monday, we acquired 10 new territories and a production facility in what we’ve called our “Deep South” transition. Let me begin with a warm welcome to our more than 900 new associates who are now part of the UNITED family:
Welcome Bainbridge!
Welcome Columbus!
Welcome Florence!
Welcome Laurel!
Welcome Leroy!
Welcome Mobile!
Welcome Ocean Springs!
Welcome Panama City!
Welcome Robertsdale!
Welcome Sylvester!
Over the past several days, I had the opportunity to visit four of our newest sales centers where we celebrated their transition into the UNITED family. My journey began Sunday night in Mobile, where we joined the UNITED “buddy” team for dinner prior to Day 1. I was immediately reminded that we had a small army of committed associates arriving at each of our 10 new facilities to serve and support their new colleagues. I am grateful for their willingness to be a part of this transition, and for the support of all who filled the gap at their “home locations” upon their absence.
As Day 1 started early in the morning with celebrations across the southeast, it soon became clear that this, our final transition – that many worked on for more than six months — was going to be a huge success. This was only possible through the leadership and preparations of our Region, Division, Product Supply and Corporate teams working collectively and tirelessly to insure a seamless transition.
I was honored to personally welcome many of our 900+ new family members. Other members of our leadership team were able to do the same, and we can all report that our new associates are in good hands and excited to be a part of our UNITED family.
Take a look at some of the photos from our Day 1 activities. See more >
There are too many colleagues behind the scenes to thank each one individually for their role in making this week’s transition a success. However, I must single out Will Goodwyn, Hafiz Chandiwala and Debbie Myles, and their respective Legal, Finance and Human Resources teams for working 24/7 over the past weeks and months to get this transaction completed and assure all of our associates were integrated in the true style of Coca-Cola UNITED.
In closing, I’d like to remind our UNITED family of the magnitude of what we have accomplished together during the last 1,281 days – in addition to continuing our daily operations and quality of service to our customers:
Coca-Cola UNITED more than tripled in size, from 2,900 associates to close to 10,000. We went from 18 sales centers and three production facilities to 53 sales centers and nine production facilities. Our customers increased from 50,000 to more than 150,000. And, our volume of cases sold went from 64 million to more than 200 million.
An epic transformation in four years! Well done Coca-Cola UNITED team! And to all our associates – new and legacy – here’s to a great future together!
With gratitude,
John Sherman