Image Source: Business Wire
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) celebrated the opening of its new Ocala Sales and Distribution Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by associates, local officials, and community partners.
The new 28,000-square-foot facility — a $10 million investment by Coke Florida — serves as a regional hub for Coke Florida’s operations, enhancing service and delivery to customers in Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, and Lake counties, delivering over 2 million units annually. In addition, it reinforces their commitment to the community.
“We’re seeing a tremendous amount of opportunity in the Ocala market,” said Thomas Benford, president and chief operating officer at Coke Florida, in a recent press release. “As a business, Coke Florida is always striving to meet customer demand through improved service and product availability, while supporting continued growth and strengthening our presence and partnerships in the greater Ocala area.”
Ben Marciano, Mayor of Ocala, attended the recent ribbon-cutting event and expressed his excitement: “As a Florida-based, locally owned, locally managed business, the investment by Coke Florida means opportunity — opportunities for development, jobs, partnerships, and economic impact.”
The facility employs over 100 local associates in roles such as drivers, sales managers, and warehouse staff. Coke Florida has been a strong supporter of the local communities in the Ocala region since it was established in 2015 as an independent Coca-Cola bottler. For instance, in 2023, Coke Florida partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Marion County to build a new home dedicated to a deserving Ocala resident.
At today’s event, Coke Florida announced that it will donate laptops and other educational resources to fully upgrade a technology lab for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County. With the technology lab, the Coke Florida Technology team will lead digital skills training courses to increase students’ digital fluency.
Coke Florida also made a $2,500 contribution to Marion County’s No Horsin’ Around sustainability program, which focuses on litter reduction education programs.
About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
Coke Florida, the sixth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the U.S., operates across 47 Florida counties, serving 21 million consumers and employing over 5,000 associates. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the U.S. and a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In 2024, Coke Florida was recognized as a US Best Managed Company by Deloitte-Private and The Wall Street Journal for the third consecutive year. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com.
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