Coca-Cola and Greater Chattanooga –
A Shared Tradition
Since the first Coca-Cola bottling operation began in Chattanooga more than a century ago, the city and the soft drink have shared a special association.
Serving Chattanooga for 108 Years
Chattanooga Coca-Cola is the home of the world’s first franchised bottling operation and has been serving the Chattanooga community for over 108 years. The company has and continues to contribute to the quality of life in our area through a variety of charitable and philanthropic efforts.
Today, Chattanooga Coca-Cola supports the community by providing goods and services to over 170 civic and non-profit organizations and through events that enhance the Chattanooga experience. Over the past 15 years, Chattanooga Coca-Cola has awarded scholarship assistance to over 100 local high school students.
In 1984, the Coca-Cola Company established the Coca-Cola Foundation, the company’s primary international philanthropic arm. Over the course of the last 24 years, the Foundation has contributed more than $155 million to support education worldwide.
Rick Hansard, Marketing Director for Chattanooga Coca-Cola, notes, “There’s a little bit of Chattanooga inside every bottle of Coca-Cola. The goal of the company can best be described in its mission statement: ‘To carry on the historic tradition of Coca-Cola in Chattanooga by providing quality products and service at a fair price.’ We strive to always be leaders in the community with competent, determined people who love their jobs.”
Dedicated Employees Giving Back
Chattanooga Coca-Cola and United Packers employees are involved in all aspects of the communities in which they live. Many are active in civic organizations, volunteer with youth athletic leagues, serve in their churches, or are involved in non-profit organizations that benefit the Chattanooga area. Dedicated employees such as Robert Hitchcox, Ryan May, Kathy Shoemake, and Avery Smith are examples of those making a difference in the Chattanooga community.
Robert Hitchcox has served the community through the Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, the Walker County Chamber of Commerce, and other endeavors. Ryan May has offered his time and talent to the Chambliss Children’s Home, the local board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and special events at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
For over six years, Kathy Shoemake has worked as a volunteer for Special Olympics and has helped coordinate youth volunteers from First Baptist Church in Dayton for the event. Avery Smith has served on the Board of Directors for Orange Grove Center and has been actively
involved with the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society.
These men and women represent the many dedicated Chattanooga Coca-Cola employees who serve their communities in extraordinary ways and are symbolic of the partnership that Chattanooga Coca-Cola has with the community. Chattanooga Coca-Cola Vice-President, Gary Davis, says that the company is “…not just mortar and steel, but it is infrastructure -- not something you put on a bronze plaque. That infrastructure is the employees, the relationships they build in the community, and the way in which they value the reputation of their company.”
Beverages for Life
Chattanooga Coca-Cola has been distributing the world’s most popular soft drink for over a century. In addition, Chattanooga Coca-Cola offers a variety of beverages to the market. Among these are Dasani water, Nestea and Gold Peak teas, Powerade and VitaminWater, each a favorite among consumers. Minute Maid juices, and V-8 and Fusion, available under the Campbell’s label, are market leaders, while FUZE, a fortified vitamin drink, is a top choice for those seeking healthy options. For parties, informal gatherings, picnics, and any type of refreshment, Chattanooga Coca-Cola provides a beverage for every age and every taste.
The Two Just Go Together
For over 100 years the Scenic City and Chattanooga Coca-Cola have shared a special relationship. The Chattanooga-born company and its dedicated employees produce only the highest quality products, while giving back to the community. With a common heritage, Chattanooga Coca-Cola and the people within our community share a bond from the past, an excitement for the present, and a commitment to the future. Coca-Cola and Greater Chattanooga – the two just go together.