Coca Cola to restructure, refranchise bottling in North America Jan 2014

The Coca Cola company has been around since 1892.

Coca Cola has decided to restructure and refranchise bottling in North America to independent partners as of January 1, 2014, in order to streamline focus and accelerate growth, the company said in a press release.

The company’s operations in North America will be segmented into two operating units as of the beginning of 2014 – the traditional company Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) and bottling operations company Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR).

J.A.M. ‘Sandy’ Douglas, who holds the position of global chief customer offcer of CCNA, will also step in as group president of CCNA as of January 2014 while CCR, which will join Bottling Investment Group, will headed by president Paul Mulligan, Coca Cola said.

The Canadian franchise operation will report to CCNA while the Latin America Group will become part of Coca-Cola International as of January 1, 2014.

 “Today’s announcement represents the next step in the evolution of the business announced last year when the Company consolidated leadership of its global operations under the Bottling Investments Group, Coca-Cola International, and Coca-Cola Americas,” Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, was quoted as saying in the press release. 

Coca-Cola is a leading beverage producer with international presence and over 500 brands of sparkling and still beverages. Its portfolio includes world-famous brands like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid and  glaceau vitaminwater.