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Cleveland Coke Marks 100 Years, Unveils Expansion |
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Wednesday, 26 September 2007 |
Sixty-year-old Glen Smith said he will never forget the day he walked into the Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plant.
In his 41 years at Coca-Cola, Mr. Smith has done everything from loading trucks to maintaining equipment, but he said his most vivid memory is his first day of work at the Refreshment Lane plant.
"I thought, man, this is humongous," he said. "It fascinated me to see something that big."
Mr. Smith was among many employees, customers and local officials crowded into the hot Cleveland Coca-Cola plant Monday where speakers celebrated 100 years of Coca-Cola bottling in the city and the announcement of a $13 million expansion.
Former Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO Summerfield K. Johnston Jr. spoke during the ceremony along with Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis, who declared the day to be Coca-Cola Day in Cleveland and Bradley County.
"Cleveland has great people and a great work force," said Mr. Johnston after the ceremony. "It's a wonderful operation here. It has exceeded my expectations."
Bradley Jordan, the Cleveland plant manager, said the expansion will add 128,000 square feet to the facility and create nine additional jobs.
He said the expansion, which has been in the planning stage for five years, will allow Cleveland Coca-Cola to stop renting other facilities and produce all its products under one roof.
John G. Sutherland, a CVS Pharmacy manager in Dalton, Ga., drove from that city on his off day to attend the event. He said he has bought Coca-Cola products from the Cleveland plant for 11 years.
"Coke is my biggest-selling product," he said, while listening to the Lee University Band play Coke commercial jingles. "These guys are good people, and you remember that."
Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling employs more than 300 people and produces 34 million cases of beverages annually.
It services more than 4,500 customers in 13 Tennessee counties, according to the company.
Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. is an operation of Coca-Cola Enterprises, the world's largest marketer, distributor, and producer of bottle and liquid drinks. It is a key seller of The Coca-Cola Co.'s products in North America, according to a statement.
Copyright (c) 2007, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
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