Whom You Know: #FloridaPeachy #TastyTidbits Coca-Cola Beverages Florida invests $10 million to expand Ocala operations; Opens new Sales and Distribution Center

Sunday, November 24, 2024

#FloridaPeachy #TastyTidbits Coca-Cola Beverages Florida invests $10 million to expand Ocala operations; Opens new Sales and Distribution Center

Coke Florida opens new Ocala Sales and Distribution Center and celebrates with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by associates, local officials, and community partners. (Photo: Business Wire)

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) officially opened its new Ocala Sales and Distribution Center and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by associates, local officials, and community partners.

The nearly 28,000-square-foot facility, located off Silver Springs Boulevard and NW 52nd Avenue, represents a $10 million investment by Coke Florida, creates a permanent hub for the company’s local operations, and reinforces its commitment to the community. The company's Ocala operations serve customers throughout the region, including Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, and Lake counties, delivering over 2 million units of Coca-Cola products and partner brands annually.

"This new facility is significant to Coke Florida's ongoing investment strategy and enhances our distribution and service capabilities," said Thomas Benford, president and chief operating officer, Coke Florida. "We're seeing a tremendous amount of opportunity in the Ocala market. As a business, Coke Florida is always striving to meet customer demand through improved service and product availability, while supporting continued growth and strengthening our presence and partnerships in the greater Ocala area."

Ben Marciano, Mayor of Ocala, attended today's ribbon-cutting event, which included a public walkthrough of the warehousing and office spaces. “We could not be more excited to be here today celebrating Coke Florida’s expansion,” said Mayor Marciano. “As a Florida-based, locally owned, locally managed business, the investment by Coke Florida means opportunity — opportunities for development, jobs, partnerships, and economic impact.”

“We believe in making a positive impact in the areas where we live, work, and play," said John Horner, Coke Florida's Territory General Manager for Ocala. “Our operations employ more than 100 associates in various roles, including CDL drivers, Sales Account Managers, Sales Merchandisers, and warehouse staff. They are ecstatic about the location of the new facility bringing them closer to home, continuing to offer world-class service to our customers in a more efficient way, and opportunities to now host community partners.”

While the company is occupying a new consolidated space, Coke Florida has been a strong supporter of the local communities in the Ocala region since it was established in 2015 as an independent Coca-Cola bottler. The company creates shared value through engagement across three community pillars: Sustainability, Education, and Economic Empowerment. In 2023, Coke Florida partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Marion County to fund and build a new home dedicated to a deserving Ocala resident.

During today's event, Coke Florida announced that it will donate laptops and other educational resources to fully upgrade a technology lab for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County. In addition to the technology lab, the Coke Florida Technology team will lead digital skills training courses to increase students' digital fluency.

The company also made a $2,500 contribution to Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around sustainability program, which focuses on litter reduction education programs and encourages the community to become good stewards of the environment.

About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Coke Florida markets, sells, manufactures, distributes, and merchandises products of The Coca-Cola Company in an exclusive territory that covers over 21 million consumers across 47 Florida counties that includes the Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville metropolitan areas. The company employs over 5,000 associates and has four GreenCircle certified manufacturing facilities and eighteen sales and distribution centers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is the one of the largest Black-owned business in the United States and is Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified. In 2024, Coke Florida was recognized as a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte-Private and The Wall Street Journal for the third consecutive year. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com.

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