Coca-Cola UNITED Wins “Highest Execution Bottler” award in the 2019 MARKET STREET CHALLENGE

“It’s a tremendous honor for UNITED to win the “Highest Execution Bottler” award in The Market Street Challenge competition as it reflects the outstanding work our associates do — day in and day out — to serve our customers and our communities,” said John Sherman, president & CEO, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED. “To have been a finalist in every year that the competition has existed is affirmation that we are living out our commitment to excellence, and we all appreciate Beeland Nielsen’s leadership in each of these four years.”

The Market Street Challenge competition was launched in 2015, and it recognizes executional excellence across the U.S. Coca-Cola bottling system.  Five executional standards were measured:  portfolio availability, outlet growth, expanded retail space, cold drink equipment and in-store activation.  Each year, there are nine finalists selected who compete for the top Market Street Challenge award.  In addition, bottlers are recognized in individual performance categories.

The ONLY bottler to be a finalist in all four years of competition

Coca-Cola UNITED won the inaugural and top Market Street Challenge award in 2016.   In addition, we have won the “Highest Execution Bottler” award all four years.   What an amazing accomplishment!

“The comradery and best practice sharing amongst the highest executing bottlers in our system is something that I don’t think can be replicated in other franchise partnerships.  There is so much pride and excitement during the bottler presentations, it gives you a lot of optimism about our system and our brands,” said Beeland Nielsen, Senior Director, Commercial Leadership, who represented Coca-Cola UNITED in the competition.  “Each bottler has a compelling and unique story to tell, and the opportunity to tell the UNITED story is always an honor for me.”

The Market Street Challenge pays tribute to the original Coca‑Cola bottling operation, which opened in 1899 on Market Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.  Chattanooga, coincidentally, has been part of Coca-Cola UNITED’s footprint since 1924, a significant source of pride for our company.

Congratulations to our entire Coca-Cola UNITED team!!