What Coca Cola UNITED does

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., operating as Coca-Cola UNITED, is a privately held, fifth-generation family-owned beverage producer and distributor founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company is the third-largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States, producing, marketing, and distributing a portfolio of leading sparkling brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Dr Pepper, Sprite, AHA, Fanta) and still non-alcoholic beverages (smartwater, Dasani, POWERADE, BODYARMOR, Fairlife, Gold Peak, Monster, Minute Maid) under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy Company. Coca-Cola UNITED also owns and operates the Coca-Cola Amphitheater in downtown Birmingham as a live-entertainment venue opened in 2025.

The company generates revenue through wholesale beverage sales to retail, convenience-store, foodservice, and event-venue customers across an exclusive six-state southeastern territory (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee), with execution primarily through a company-owned direct-store-delivery fleet. Distribution channels include major retail chains, gas and convenience stores, 13 fast-food chain partners, regional restaurants, stadiums, arenas, and event venues. The company also engages in community and educational programs (Coca-Cola Scholars, HBCU internships, Restoration Academy) and event sponsorships (Regions Tradition, USA Gymnastics, ESSENCE Festival) as brand-building activities.

Coca-Cola UNITED currently employs more than 10,000 associates across more than 50 production and distribution facilities. The company is executing a major capital-program: a $330 million new corporate headquarters and sales center under construction in Birmingham's Kingston community, expected to be completed in late 2026 with retention of 750+ jobs and creation of up to 50 new roles, while the existing 350,000-square-foot East Lake Boulevard campus has been placed on the market. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue mechanics reflect standard wholesale beverage distribution with volume-based contracts through retail, foodservice, and event channels.

Name

Coca Cola UNITED

Legal name

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc.

Website

https://cocacolaunited.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Coca-Cola UNITED is the third-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, producing and distributing sparkling and still beverages under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy Company across six southeastern states via 10,000+ associates and 50+ facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Beverage Production and Distribution: Coca-Cola UNITED produces, markets, and distributes a portfolio of leading sparkling brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Dr Pepper, Sprite, AHA, Fanta) and still brands (smartwater, Dasani, POWERADE, BODYARMOR, Fairlife, Gold Peak, Monster, Minute Maid) under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy Company. Revenue is generated through the sale of beverages to retailers, convenience stores, and foodservice operators.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. (Coca-Cola UNITED) produces, markets, and distributes a portfolio of sparkling and still non-alcoholic beverages under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy Company. The company operates as the third largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, serving retail, convenience, and foodservice customers across six southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee) via more than 50 production and distribution facilities and a direct store delivery (DSD) fleet.

Product overview

Coca-Cola UNITED is a beverage bottling and distribution company operating as the third largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the United States. The company distributes a diverse portfolio of leading sparkling brands (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Dr Pepper, Sprite, AHA, Fanta) and still non-alcoholic beverages (smartwater, Dasani, POWERADE, BODYARMOR, Fairlife, Gold Peak, Monster, Minute Maid) under exclusive franchise agreements with The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Monster Energy Company. The company also operates the Coca-Cola Amphitheater in Birmingham, Alabama as a live entertainment venue. Coca-Cola UNITED serves six southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee) through more than 50 facilities with approximately 10,000 associates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coca-Cola: Flagship sparkling beverage brand including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, and related variants.
• Dr Pepper
• Sprite
• Fanta
• AHA
• smartwater
• Dasani
• POWERADE
• BODYARMOR
• Fairlife
• Gold Peak
• Monster
• Minute Maid
• Coca-Cola Amphitheater

Products and services

• Coca-Cola
• Diet Coke
• Coke Zero Sugar
• Dr Pepper
• Sprite
• Fanta
• AHA
• smartwater
• Dasani
• POWERADE
• BODYARMOR
• Fairlife
• Gold Peak
• Monster
• Minute Maid
• Coca-Cola Amphitheater

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 13 Fast Food Chains (Arby's, Wendy's, Popeyes, etc.)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 April 2026Coca-Cola launched the 'And a Coke' national campaign partnering with 13 restaurant chains including Arby's, Wendy's, and Popeyes to reinforce adding a Coke while ordering. Campaign running in cinemas with ads highlighting various restaurant and customer types, supported across digital, social media, and delivery platforms.
• Restoration AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Coca-Cola UNITED hosted 12 Restoration Academy students in Atlanta for a transformative learning experience designed to expose future opportunities and career pathways. Students engaged with company leaders, toured production facilities, and participated in panel discussions with young professionals.
• Graham & CompanyminorOthers · 13 March 2026Graham & Company, a Birmingham-based commercial real estate firm, is listing Coca-Cola UNITED's East Lake Boulevard campus for sale as the company prepares to relocate to its new corporate headquarters.
• USA GymnasticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Coca-Cola UNITED partnered with USA Gymnastics to support the 2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships held August 7-10 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The partnership marked a meaningful homecoming as the Championships were last held in New Orleans in 1995 when Coca-Cola served as title sponsor. UNITED provides refreshments for participating athletes, coaches, and staff, while extending the celebration into the community with themed point-of-sale displays at local retailers.
• Smoothie King CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Venue partner for Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships 2025 in New Orleans.
• The Coca-Cola CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoca-Cola UNITED operates under exclusive franchise agreement with The Coca-Cola Company for production, marketing, and distribution of Coca-Cola branded beverages in its territory.
• Keurig Dr PeppercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoca-Cola UNITED distributes Dr Pepper and other Keurig Dr Pepper brands under exclusive franchise agreement in its territory.
• Monster Energy CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoca-Cola UNITED distributes Monster energy drinks under exclusive franchise agreement with Monster Energy Company.
• ESSENCE Festival of CulturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola is presenting sponsor of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2026, with Cultural Curators leading programming pillars including nonfiction, Book Festival fiction experience, and Food & Wine Festival.
• Milagro CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded $10,000 grant through Coca-Cola Sustainability Innovation Challenge to fund student-led sustainability project 'World Without Waste' at the Milagro Center in Delray Beach, Florida.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coca-Cola Consolidated: The largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States and the only publicly traded Coca-Cola bottler. Operates as a direct franchise bottler across the southeastern US with a similar product portfolio (Coca-Cola, Dasani, POWERADE, etc.), making it the most directly comparable peer to Coca-Cola UNITED.
• Reyes Holdings (Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling): Privately held Reyes Holdings operates one of the largest Coca-Cola bottling and distribution networks in the US through Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling. Directly comparable as a large independent Coca-Cola franchise bottler with multi-state territory and similar SKU mix.
• Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages: Independent Coca-Cola bottler serving the New York metropolitan area and Philadelphia markets. Comparable as a privately held, exclusive-territory Coca-Cola franchise bottler with similar multi-channel (retail, foodservice) distribution model.
• Swire Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages): Swire Coca-Cola USA operates bottling and distribution across 13 states. Highly comparable as a major independent Coca-Cola franchise bottler with parallel product portfolio, DSD model, and similar scale of operations in different US geographies.
• Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling: Independent Coca-Cola bottler serving Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and parts of Kentucky. Comparable as a regional exclusive Coca-Cola franchise bottler with similar product mix and direct store delivery distribution approach.
• Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling: Independent Coca-Cola bottler serving Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and surrounding states. Comparable as a regional franchise bottler operating under similar terms with The Coca-Cola Company and offering overlapping product portfolios.

Broad incumbents

• Pepsi Bottling Ventures: Largest privately held Pepsi-Cola bottler in North America, operating across the US Southeast. Comparable as a competing beverage bottler with overlapping geography (same six southeastern states), parallel DSD distribution model, and similar portfolio of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.
• Keurig Dr Pepper: Major non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer and franchisor of brands Coca-Cola UNITED distributes (Dr Pepper). Comparable as a partner and industry incumbent that influences Coca-Cola UNITED's commercial terms, product portfolio composition, and competitive dynamics in carbonated soft drinks.

Emerging players

• Monster Beverage Corporation: Energy drink manufacturer and Coca-Cola UNITED's third core franchisor partner. Comparable as the energy-drink category leader whose brand Coca-Cola UNITED distributes under exclusive franchise, exposing the bottler to one of the highest-growth non-alcoholic beverage subcategories.
• National Beverage Corp. US beverage manufacturer known for sparkling waters (LaCroix), energy drinks, and specialty sodas. Comparable as a publicly traded CSD/alternative beverage producer that competes for the same retail shelf space and consumer occasions across Coca-Cola UNITED's southeastern footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cocacolaunited
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coca-cola-bottling-company-united
• Instagraminstagram.com/cocacolaunited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coca Cola UNITED