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New regional production hub adds POWERADE®, vitaminwater to lineup
May 27, 2009
Coca-Cola Bottling Company United recently opened the first LEED-certified Coca-Cola bottling plant in the United States, a 781,000-sq.-ft. facility in Baton Rouge, La., that will be a regional production and distribution hub for the Coca-Cola system.
The new building was constructed with recycled materials, incorporates energy conservation measures, and received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across various environmental and conservation metrics. The facility also contains an onsite reclamation center for paper, plastic, cardboard, aluminum and shrink wrap.
The operation will create up to 113 new jobs over the next three years and will expand local capability to include production of POWERADE and vitaminwater for bottlers throughout Louisiana and parts of neighboring states.
"This beautiful, state-of-the-art bottling and distribution facility is really the crown jewel of a great relationship between Louisiana and Coca-Cola that spans more than a century," Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent said during the celebration. "What you really see here is what I like to think of as sustainable community-building at its best. When leaders from government, business and civil society can come together to help create real economic, environmental and social benefit, then everyone wins."
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The new Baton Rouge facility. |
Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council, said Coca-Cola's LEED certification in Baton Rouge demonstrates tremendous green building leadership. "While climate change is a global problem, resourceful companies like Coca-Cola are addressing it through local solutions," he added.
Construction of the new facility began in May 2007. One year later, the bottler announced that it would expand the size of the new operation, creating a total local investment of approximately $178 million. In collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, the building design was revised to include production of POWERADE and vitaminwater through the addition of three thermal lines, for a total of six high-speed lines. The plant also will produce Dr Pepper.
Gov. Jindal said, "Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company's expansion in Louisiana creates good-paying jobs, strengthens the local economy and improves the quality of life for the people of this community. In addition, this expansion today highlights the importance of our continued work to reform the economic landscape in our state."
Kent concluded, "This plant is an investment in our collective futures. It's yet another great example of just how excited we and our bottling partners are about the future of Coca-Cola." | 
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