Billy Leonard, Author at Coca-Cola Consolidated

Consolidated distributes school supplies, meals to hundreds of families at SC elementary school

Billy Leonard2022-08-29T17:00:35-04:00August 29, 2022|Community Engagement|

Some of our Piedmont teammates supported a Meet The Teacher Night at Brook Glenn Elementary School in Taylors, South Carolina. Our teammates filled 500 backpacks with school supplies and distributed them to students as they entered the school for the event. Teammates also handed out Dasani water bottles and 350 Chick-fil-A boxed meals to students and parents. All 30 teachers also received a $25 Target Gift Card as a thank you for being an every day hero!

Coca-Cola Named Official Soft Drink of Memphis

Billy Leonard2022-08-18T15:25:18-04:00June 28, 2022|Community Engagement, Company News|

Soft Drink’s Largest Bottler, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Teams up with BODYARMOR Sports Drink and Basketball Star Ja Morant to Celebrate Commitment to Local Community

Memphis, TN. June 28, 2022 – Coca-Cola has been part of the Memphis community for more than 100 years, and now it’s the city’s Official Soft Drink.

To celebrate the designation and its commitment to the community, Coke Consolidated teamed up with BODYARMOR Sports Drink and basketball star athlete Ja Morant to unveil more than a dozen newly refurbished basketball courts in Memphis. The final courts were completed this spring and feature refurbished blacktops and customized backboards that include imagery of Morant and BODYARMOR, which is now part of The Coca-Cola Company’s portfolio of active hydration brands.

To officially unveil the new courts, Coke Consolidated and BODYARMOR hosted and hydrated a youth basketball clinic today dedicated to more than 100 young athletes from the Memphis Parks Summer Program. Throughout the day, clinic participants ran through several drills working on shooting, passing, dribbling and more. Morant was also on-hand lending his basketball expertise and offering tips, encouraging the next generation of athletes to take the courts.

“I grew up playing on public courts like these, so being able to give back to the community of Memphis through a project like this is exciting,” said Morant. “And to do it with partners like BODYARMOR and Coca-Cola Consolidated – who have been with me from the very beginning – means a lot to me.”

Coca-Cola Consolidated makes, sells and distributes beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies and has more than 650 teammates in the Memphis region. The Coca-Cola Company acquired full ownership of BODYARMOR – a premium sports drink that provides superior hydration – in November 2021, and Ja Morant has been an athlete partner for Team BODYARMOR since 2020.

“We’re honored to be the official soft drink of Memphis and to work with BODYARMOR to provide the community with fantastic spaces to play and grow,” said Keith Burnette, Mid-South Market Unit Vice President at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “Our team is committed to serving our teammates, our customers and our consumers throughout the Memphis community.”

List of courts:

Locations	Address
Glenview	1141 S. Barksdale 38114
Alcy-Samuels (2 courts)	1401 Alcy Road 38114
Bickford Park	233 Henry Ave 38107
Washington	1972 N. Second 38107
Gooch	1974 Hunter 38108
CW Davis	3371 Spottswood Ave 38111
Pine Hill	973 Alice 38126
Lewis – Davis	Pendleton @ Deadrick 38114
Halle (4 courts)	2602 Mt Moriah Rd 38115

About Coca-Cola Consolidated:
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, serve others, pursue excellence and grow profitably. For over 120 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia to approximately 60 million consumers.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE.” More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About BODYARMOR:
BODYARMOR is a premium, sports drink that provides superior hydration. Created in 2011 by Mike Repole, BODYARMOR is packed with electrolytes, coconut water and antioxidants. Low in sodium and high in potassium, BODYARMOR contains natural flavors and sweeteners and no colors or dyes from artificial sources. In 2017, BODYARMOR went on to launch BODYARMOR LYTE, which has all the same nutrients as BODYARMOR Sports Drink but has no sugar added and only 20 calories per bottle; and BODYARMOR SportWater, a premium sport water created for those with an active lifestyle with a performance pH 9+ and electrolytes for sport. In August 2018, The Coca-Cola Company purchased a minority stake in BODYARMOR, making them the second largest shareholder behind Repole. The brand’s latest innovation came in 2021, with the launch of BODYARMOR EDGE, which combines the Superior Hydration of BODYARMOR Sports Drink with a boost of caffeine to give consumers an EDGE. Fully acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in November 2021, BODYARMOR continues to be an innovative game-changer in the world of active hydration and is now the #2 Sports Drink across the U.S.

Consolidated Partners with Classroom Central to Celebrate 80 Educators During Teacher Appreciation Week

Billy Leonard2022-06-06T11:51:29-04:00May 6, 2022|Community Engagement|

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, our Charlotte teammates partnered with Classroom Central to celebrate 80 local educators from schools where 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunch. The teachers shopped for school supplies in the free Classroom Central store and received gift cards, dessert, and Coca-Cola Starlight as a token of appreciation for their out of this world work in the classroom!

NC Educators Receive School Supplies in Celebration of Teachers Appreciation Week

Billy Leonard2022-08-04T11:15:09-04:00April 14, 2022|Community Engagement|

In appreciation of our educators, Coca-Cola Consolidated hosted a special breakfast at Mountain Park Elementary in Surry County, North Carolina. Our team gifted dozens of teachers with bags filled with school supplies and lots of Coke gear! Consolidated also donated five picnic tables made of recycled material and water bottles with the school’s logo for students and staff to enjoy!

Response Team Serves Associate of Consolidated Customer Displaced By House Fire

Billy Leonard2022-04-21T15:27:30-04:00March 10, 2022|Community Engagement|

Coca-Cola Consolidated Response Team Manager Tony Nunley heard about a man in his community losing his home in a fire when he was on the phone with his mom on the weekend of Jan. 22. The Response Team typically helps teammates recover from natural disasters, but after some quick digging, Nunley learned the man was Barry Witt, who works at a Roanoke, Va.-area Food Lion, a long-time customer of Consolidated.

This connection and our Purpose to serve others resulted in the Response Team assisting Witt. Nunley reached out to Witt to confirm that it was him who had suffered the loss, and within a week the Response Team got the go-ahead to proceed. Nunley put out a call for anyone willing to help and Consolidated teammates, Food Lion associates, neighbors, and other community members stepped up to help clean out Witt’s home.

Volunteers gutted the house, allowing the contractor to come in and start the next steps.

“The overwhelming response from the local team was second to none,” added Nunley. “It was just really good that they stepped up to the plate.”

“They came in and emptied the house – what was trash they threw in the trash, what was valuable they brought by for my wife,” said Witt. “They did in three days what would’ve taken other people at least two months.”

And now, Barry and his wife, Sandi, and two children, Josh and Kayla, will be able to move back into their house much more quickly than they would have if it weren’t for Consolidated’s Response Team.

“We were told it would be nine months to a year to inspect it, but because of the work that was done here by Coca-Cola Consolidated and the contractors, they feel very confident we’ll be back in the house sooner,” said Witt.

Because of the Response Team’s efforts, and the number of teammate volunteers, the Witt family is one step closer to getting their home back.

The Response Team’s calling to serve others was not only appreciated by Barry and his family. Shannon Durham manages the Food Lion account for Consolidated and she received many notes of appreciation from the Food Lion team for treating one of their associates like a Consolidated teammate.

“What a tremendous effort to serve a member of the community,” said Shannon Durham, Vice President of Customer Management. “I’m proud to work for a company that serves our Purpose at this level.”

“Very few companies, if any others, do this kind of thing,” added Witt. “It really says a lot about Coke Consolidated and their character, from the top down. They worked as a true team. You could just tell they were excited to do what they did, and you could tell that they loved each other and care for each other – and that they cared for us by helping us through this.”

Charlotte FC Announces Partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated

Billy Leonard2022-04-27T11:22:16-04:00February 22, 2022|Company News|

Charlotte FC today announced a multiyear partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, designating it as the Club’s Official Soft Drink and Dasani as the Club’s Official Bottled Water.

The agreement started with the 2022 Inaugural Season Kickoff Tour on February 22, with stops at Levine Children’s Hospital to deliver a pizza party for patients and their families; selected locations of Harris Teeter for a CLTFC fan offer for the Club’s first-ever match on February 26; and a lunch with local media representatives at Three Amigos to commence the inaugural home match week.

“As we move closer to Charlotte FC’s historic match at Bank of America Stadium on March 5, we are proud to welcome a partner like Coca-Cola, a brand that is committed to the world’s most popular sport,” said the CEO of Tepper Sports and Entertainment Nick Kelly. “Our partnership leverages the excitement around the inaugural season of CLTFC and goes beyond the field, as fan engagement efforts will be pivotal as we continue strengthening our ties with the community in Charlotte and across the Carolinas.”

The deal with Coca-Cola Consolidated, headquartered in Charlotte, also includes sponsorship of goal moments during CLTFC home games at Bank of America Stadium, product sampling activations at select matches during the season, and multiple community engagement opportunities.

“As Charlotte’s local bottler we’re honored to be a founding partner for Charlotte FC,” said Heather Hucks, Vice President of Consumer Connections at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “We look forward to refreshing fans throughout the inaugural season and partnering with Charlotte FC to positively impact the Charlotte community.”

The 2022 MLS season marks the historic beginning of Charlotte FC on the pitch. The Club will kick off the season on Saturday, February 26 against D.C. United at Audi Field at 6:00 p.m., followed by the first-ever MLS game at Bank of America Stadium vs. LA Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2022.   

Coke Consolidated Acquires Distribution Rights from Eastern NC Coke Bottler

Billy Leonard2022-04-29T11:58:34-04:00February 16, 2022|Company News|

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. today announced the purchase of the distribution rights for certain beverages sold and distributed by Coca-Cola Bottling Company Washington, N.C., Inc. (“Washington, NC Coca-Cola”).

This purchase transferred the rights to distribute, market, promote and sell, effective January 1, 2022, certain beverages currently sold by Washington, NC Coca-Cola, including trademark brands of The Coca-Cola Company and its partners, such as Monster Energy Drinks and BODYARMOR sports drinks. The purchase also includes rights for certain Dr Pepper products.

“Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Washington, NC and its predecessors have proudly served the world’s best beverage brands since 1910,” said Braxton B. Dawson, Jr., President & CEO of Washington, NCCoca-Cola. “My father purchased the business in 1956, and for 65 years, our family has been honored to serve our customers and this community. We love the Coca-Cola business, so we are delighted that Coke Consolidated will continue to build on this rich legacy of service and excellence.”

J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman & CEO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., said, “Coke Consolidated shares a similar history with Washington, NC Coca-Cola. We have always cultivated deep roots in the communities we serve. We are truly honored to engage with Washington, NC Coca-Cola’s employeesas well as the customers and consumers in and around the Washington community. We look forward to sharing the latest Coke brands as well as our timeless favorites and working together to serve the Washington community.”

Coca-Cola Consolidated, Hornets Extend Partnership

Billy Leonard2022-04-27T11:25:06-04:00January 6, 2022|Company News|

The Charlotte Hornets and Coca-Cola Consolidated today announced an extension of their Founding Level Partnership in which the company remains the team’s official and exclusive partner for soft drinks, water, bottled teas and juices, and retains pouring rights for Spectrum Center concession stands. This season, Coca-Cola Consolidated is shifting its promotional assets to Dr Pepper after many years of using this partnership to promote the Sprite brand.

“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated and look forward to fully integrating the Dr Pepper brand into our in-arena experience and activations,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “Coca-Cola Consolidated is one of our oldest partners, dating back to the original Hornets, and we are appreciative of their many years of support.”

As part of the partnership, the area formerly known as Rock the Rooftop on Spectrum Center’s 200 level is being rebranded as the Dr Pepper Pavilion and the Pepper Lounge. This interactive area will feature signage and branding, samplings focused on Dr Pepper’s innovative flavors and additional activations. Dr Pepper has also become the entitlement partner of mobile ordering on the Hornets App, a virtual basketball game on the app that translates to the scoreboard, and dunk highlights. The brand is advertised through various types of signage, including fixed signage outside Spectrum Center and in the Main Lobby, as well as digital signage on the scorer’s table, scoreboard and 360 LED boards.

One new element to the partnership between the Hornets and Coca-Cola Consolidated will be a sustainability program that will initially focus on recycling within Spectrum Center. In addition, the two organizations will continue to partner on community initiatives including the Hugo’s Little Hero program in conjunction with Bee Mighty and the NICU and PICU at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital and Dr Pepper will continue to provide drinks for Hornets community events such as the annual Cornucopia event at Thanksgiving.

“As Charlotte’s local bottler, we have refreshed and cheered alongside Hornets fans since the inception of the team over 30 years ago,” said Heather Hucks, VP of Consumer Connections at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with this community focused organization and are excited to feature Dr Pepper as our lead brand for the team. Dr Pepper’s flagship brand, with its 23 unique flavors, is a perfect fit for the Charlotte Hornets and we can’t wait for fans to see all the fun ways to engage with Dr Pepper inside and outside the arena.”

Dr Pepper also serves as the entitlement partner for the annual Hornets Tipoff Tour, which takes place each year prior to the start of the regular season, and the annual Fan Appreciation Night at the end of each season. In addition, Dr Pepper is the presenting partner of several digital and social media content pieces.

Coke Consolidated Serves KY Teammate Who Lost Home In Tornado

Billy Leonard2022-04-21T16:28:24-04:00December 29, 2021|Community Engagement|

Jimmie Wooten was hunkered down on the bathroom floor holding his wife, LaDonna, the moment before a tornado blew through his home in Benton, Ky. on Dec. 10.

“When it hit… I could feel the power. You could feel the wind come underneath the bathroom door,” said Wooten, who is a Large Store District Sales Manager serving the Paducah area.

The tornado was one of dozens that left a trail of destruction throughout eight states that weekend – destroying homes where families had once shared a lifetime of memories.

“It was a whirlwind that night,” he said.

According to the 17-year Coke Consolidated veteran, the vicious storm that lifted his home from the ground lasted no more than 10 seconds, but the destruction it left behind took nearly a week to cleanup. A cleanup that he and his family did not have to face alone.

The morning after the storm, Wooten got a call from Tony Nunley who leads the Coke Consolidated Response Team. The team, which is made up of volunteer teammates who work in a variety of roles throughout the company, was formed in 2018 with the desire to serve teammates and their families during natural disasters and other setbacks.

“Any time there’s a disaster, we head to the area to see who we can help,” Nunley said. “Our number one goal is teammates and their families.”

By Tuesday, the team was on the ground – helping remove debris from Wooten’s yard and picking up pieces of his family’s life out of the mud.

“I don’t know what we would have done without that team,” Wooten said. “And not just me, but my entire neighborhood because they helped everyone around me.”

Debris from Wooten’s home landed in his neighbors’ yards and the Response Team went door-to-door lending a helping hand in the aftermath of the storm.

“The heart to serve others is just so tremendous and everybody was in complete awe of that,” Wooten said. “So, if there was a stranger who was cold, they would hand them a sweatshirt. If they were thirsty or hungry, they had snacks and they had drinks.”

The team spent about 12 hours a day for six days helping with recovery and cleanup efforts for Wooten and his neighbors.

“We took it to the point where his contractor can start building,” Nunley said. “Any demo that needed to be done, we stayed until all of that was done, and all the debris was out.”

After nearly a week, Wooten’s family and the Response Team ended their cleanup efforts at worship services on Sunday. Wooten, who also lost his brother the same week as the tornadoes, said the team rallied around him and the Company’s Purpose to serve others was a constant source of encouragement.

Coca-Cola Consolidated also supported the Mayfield, Ky. community by donating pallets of Dasani water to first responders who were supporting residents with their recovery efforts.

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About Billy Leonard

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