Coca-Cola invests $25M in facility expansion
West Memphis facility’s growth means more jobs, increased tax revenue
By DONALD WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
Coca-Cola Consolidated has announced a signi_cant $25 million investment to enhance its manufacturing facility in West Memphis, Arkansas. This investment aims to increase production capacity from 26 million to 29 million cases annually at the facility.
The key focus of the expansion is the introduction of advanced blow mold technology that automates the bottle-making process using 100 percent recycled plastic preforms. This will streamline production, enable customization of bottle sizes, and reduce reliance on external suppliers, improving overall ef_ciency.
In line with their commitment to sustainability, Coca- Cola Consolidated plans to roll out new lighter-weight bottle designs across its product lines. The updated 20oz Coca-Cola bottles will be manufactured entirely from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) to align with
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Coca-Cola has invested $25 million in the local factory to ramp up production.
Photos courtesy of City of West Memphis
Both the Mayor of West Memphis Marco McClendon and the Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders were on hand for a tour of the West Memphis Coca-Cola facility.
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environmental packaging trends. A new consistent bottle design called the Harmony bottle will also be introduced across various brands like Dr. Pepper and Fanta.
Steve Funderburke, VP of manufacturing at Coca-Cola Consolidated, expressed the company’s commitment to operational excellence and sustainability through this investment. The expansion will also create job opportunities, with plans to hire 19 new employees including operators and quality control staff.
Coca-Cola Consolidated has invested approximately $438 million in Arkansas, supporting over 7,300 jobs statewide. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon applauded the investment, noting its economic significance to the local community. McClendon highlighted the role of this investment in positioning West Memphis as a hub for manufacturing innovation.
Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US, operates multiple facilities across the Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.
