Sylvester Coca-Cola acquired by Coca-Cola United

SYLVESTER — Sylvester Coca-Cola, which serves metro Albany and other areas of the region, has been acquired by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

The distribution center was one of 10 sales and distribution territories that Coca-Cola United acquired, along with a production facility in Mobile, Ala.

The transaction closed Monday, adding 920 associates to Coca-Cola United rolls. The company also announced it had hired 100 new employees.

“These new territories make for a more contiguous franchise footprint for our company and will enable us to more effectively service our customers and consumers throughout the seven Southeastern states where we operate,” John H. Sherman, president and CEO of Coca-Cola United, said.

“We’re extremely impressed with the caliber of associates that are joining the United family, many of whom we already know,” he said. “They are highly motivated and have a work ethic that is focused on serving one another as associates, serving our customers and serving the communities where we live and work.”

Linda Sewell, corporate director of community relations and communication for United, said Tuesday that the Sylvester sales center includes sales, distribution and warehouse. Its service territory includes Albany, Cordele, Fitzgerald, Ocilla, Leesburg, Moultrie, Tifton, Sylvester and surrounding areas.

“The city of Sylvester welcomes Coca-Cola United to our community,” Mayor Bill Yearta said. “With their tradition of community support and involvement, along with the prospect of economic growth, the city looks forward to continuing our partnership with Sylvester Coca-Cola and its new parent company.”

Ronald Downs, manager of the Sylvester Coca-Cola, said his team is “excited to become a part of the Coca-Cola United family. Coca-Cola has a longstanding presence in Sylvester, and our team is now ready to take it to the next level.”

Mike Suco, vice president of the East Region for United, said the company has a 115-year history of empowering associates, serving customers, refreshing consumers and investing in communities, all of which will be brought to Sylvester.

As Sylvester is brought into the “United family,” he said, “we continue that tradition and look forward to growing our presence in this community.”

In addition to Sylvester, United acquired territories in Bainbridge and Columbus in Georgia. Alabama territories it acquired were Florence, Mobile, Robertsdale and Leroy. It also acquired territories in Panama City, Fla., and Laurel and Ocean Springs, both in Mississippi.

Coca-Cola United officials say their company is the largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler in North America, employing about 10,000 associates in seven Southeastern states, where it has 54 sales and distribution centers and nine production facilities. Monday’s closings completed a four-year period of acquisitions for United.

Officials with the company say they plan to invest more than $9 million is infrastructure, facility improvements and fleet in the newly acquired territories.