News ReleaseTHE
COCA-COLA COMPANY ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION PLANS FOR GLACÉAU
ATLANTA, August 30, 2007 -
The Coca-Cola Company today announced that it has reached distribution agreements
with its bottling partners and glacéau distributors for its newly acquired glacéau
brands. Coca-Cola Bottlers representing 99 percent of the Company's U.S.
bottler- delivered volume have signed on to distribute the glacéau portfolio.
Several current glacéau distributors, including Big Geyser (New York City), Haralambos
( Los Angeles County), Kalil (primarily Arizona), John Lenore & Company (San
Diego County) and Honickman (portions of several mid-Atlantic states) will also
continue distribution of the glacéau portfolio in these territories. In certain
channels such as club stores, natural food stores, and certain foodservice customers,
distribution of the glacéau portfolio of brands will be managed directly by Coca-Cola
North America's glacéau unit. "The completion of these agreements
with our bottling partners is an excellent example of Coca-Cola system strength
and cooperation," said Muhtar Kent, president and chief operating officer,
The Coca-Cola Company. "The powerful combination of our Coca-Cola bottling
partners and these glacéau distributors will allow us to continue to accelerate
glacéau's impressive growth well into the future. This operating model will appropriately
benefit our system, bring value to our customers and deliver attractive returns
to our shareowners." Distribution of glacéau products through these
bottlers and distributors is expected to begin before the end of this year. "This
is an important step forward for our company and our bottling system and a tribute
to the shared vision of success within the Coca-Cola system in the U.S.,"
said Sandy Douglas, president, Coca-Cola North America. "The glacéau brands
are among the fastest growing in North America, and the marriage of these great
brands with the world's finest selling and distribution system will allow us to
introduce them to even more thirsty consumers."
The Coca-Cola
Company is the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage company. Along with the
Coca-Cola® trademark, recognized as the world's most valuable
brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling
beverage brands, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke®, Fanta®
and Sprite® beverages, and a wide range of other non-alcoholic beverages,
including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees,
energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system,
consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding
1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca Cola Company,
please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com. #
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