Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED is considering a $42 million investment to expand its bottling facility in Baton Rouge.
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The proposed expansion would create 15 direct new jobs, with an average salary of $43,000, plus benefits. Those new jobs, if created, would supplement the current 558 jobs, which will be retained on site at the Baton Rouge facility.
Louisiana Economic Development estimates the completed project would result in 27 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 40 new jobs in Louisiana’s capital region.
The proposed expansion of the bottling facility would include constructing 120,000 square-feet of additional warehouse space, allowing for upgrades and new machinery. The expansion would also include the installation of a new Vertique warehouse case picking system.
Additionally, new machinery and equipment would be added to support the increased capacity and productivity, including a new generator, recycling equipment, storage racks, forklifts, conveyors, power switches, gears, lighting and fire suppression systems.
Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling has been in operations for 115 years, when the first bottle was filled at a small building on the corner of Europe and St. Louis streets in downtown Baton Rouge. The current facility, located at 9696 Plank Road, was built in 2009.
With the expansion, the total size of the Baton Rouge facility would increase to 900,000 square feet. The planned expansion of the Baton Rouge facility follows the company’s announcement that it plans to invest more than $15 million for renovations at its Lafayette distribution facility.
Both planned investments are part of the company’s long-term investment strategy to meet the growing demand of customers along the Gulf Coast.
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Coca-Cola UNITED is the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the U.S., and most of Louisiana is included it its territory. The company operates bottling facilities and distribution centers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, as well as sales and distribution centers in Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport. Statewide, Coca-Cola UNITED employs more than 2,100 Louisiana residents. ■