Coca-Cola Beverages is expanding its footprint in Polk County

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) has significantly expanded its operations in Polk County with the purchase of a 407,000 square foot warehouse in Winter Haven’s Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center.

The purchase includes 37 acres of land.

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According to a news release, on Sept. 10 Florida transitioned the service of more than 2,500 customers, including warehousing and delivery of over 7 million cases annually, to its new Polk County location.

The build-out of the new location is expected to conclude in the spring of 2022 and will complete an investment of over $30 million.

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“Being centrally located and expanding our network capacity in such a significant way allows us to better serve our customers and consumers statewide,” said Jeff Ortmeier, Coke Florida’s vice president of field franchise operations.

The new location is home to more than 200 associates and the company expects to add over 100 additional jobs in the next 12 months, the release stated.

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“We offer an array of career opportunities in sales, merchandising, warehousing, and distribution coupled with a competitive total rewards package,” said Leprecia Fontenot, Coke Florida’s territory general manager for Polk County. “I’m excited that I have immediate openings for drivers, warehouse associates, and sales merchandisers,” she added.

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Winter Haven Economic Development Council President Bruce Lyon shared, “Winter Haven, one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida, is thrilled to have Coca-Cola make such a bold commitment to our community. Coca-Cola’s investment and expansion into Winter Haven, and the hundreds of new jobs that it’s creating, helps to diversify and strengthen our local and regional economy, while offering significant economic benefits to the company. We couldn’t be more pleased than to have Coca-Cola Florida as our newest industrial partner.”

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