Coca-Cola Consolidated

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Beverage
Founded	1902 (1902)
Founder	J. B. Harrison
Headquarters	Charlotte, North Carolina , United States
Area served	14 states in the southeastern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic United States
Key people	J. Frank Harrison III (Chairman and CEO)
Products	Coca-Cola beverages and other drink products
Parent	The Coca-Cola Company (approx. 35% ownership as of 2017)

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., with its main office located in Charlotte, North Carolina, stands as the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products within the United States.

Serving a customer base of 65 million individuals across 14 states, the company is engaged in the production, distribution, and sale of Coca-Cola beverages along with other drink products. Its operations are concentrated mainly in the southeastern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic areas. Coca-Cola Consolidated oversees 13 production plants alongside 80 distribution hubs and warehouses. The corporate headquarters operate out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Corporate history

The company was established in 1902 by J. B. Harrison, who is the great-grandfather of the current chairman. In 1973, it combined forces with other bottlers to create Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. The business was formally incorporated in 1980, followed by acquisitions of Wometco in 1985 and Sunbelt Coca-Cola in 1991.

Financials

As of January 1, 2017, The Coca-Cola Company possessed approximately 35% of the outstanding common shares of Coca-Cola Consolidated, equating to nearly 5% of total voting rights. Chairman and CEO J. Frank Harrison III controls shares that account for roughly 86% of combined voting power.

Tax Incentives

In June 2018, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin revealed $3.5 million in tax benefits granted to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated for expanding its operations in Erlanger, Kentucky. This project is part of a $50 million redevelopment effort on the former Showcase Cinemas property and is expected to generate more than 430 full-time positions in distribution, sales, and warehousing roles. The new facility was projected to open by late summer 2019.

Worker strike

Certain Coca-Cola Consolidated sites represented by the Teamsters union have undergone strike actions.

Community involvement

Coca-Cola Consolidated actively supports local initiatives and organizations such as the YMCA. Since 2008, it has collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to advocate for sustainable water management and reuse strategies aimed at preserving aquatic ecosystems. Following the October 2015 North American storm complex, the company contributed bottled water to assist flood victims. Additionally, it provides support to public school educators in Arkansas.