Milledgeville bottling
company brings
Coca-Cola to the masses
W
hile many salespeople have the
initial task of informing cus-
tomers about their products during their
pitches, Rick Harding has no such re-
quirement.
For the past 33 years, the longtime
route truck driver and current sales op-
erations manager has supplied Milled-
geville with one of its most precious, ir-
replaceable resources: Coca-Cola.
Every day from the Milledgeville Co-
ca-Cola Bottling Company headquarters
on Highway 22, Harding and his staff
deliver dozens of Coca-Cola products to
both Baldwin and surrounding counties,
and after more than 100 years, Middle
Georgia is just as thirsty for the iconic cola as ever.
“The [bottling company] opened here in 1913, so we’ve been in business for over
100 years,” says Harding. “We deliver to Baldwin County, Hancock County, a little
piece of Putnam County, and a little piece of Wilkinson County.”
While Harding no longer has to physically drive Coke products to the company’s
customers around the area, there is still much
work to be done to keep local shops and
restaurants stocked. Between picking up in-
ventory from its local distributor, delivering
units to its area businesses, and maintaining
the cola’s extensive local market, Milled-
geville’s bottling company is moving Coke
products every single day of the week.
Earlier this year, the beverage giant re-
leased two new Coca-Cola Innovation prod-
ucts: Sprite Limeade and Coca-Cola Vanilla
Orange, no doubt with more on the way. From
the classic red label cola to newer products
like teas, juices, and flavored water, Harding
and his staff ensure that Milledgeville is never
in need of a Coke.
“We plan to continue to service the com-
munity and grow as the Milledgeville econ-
omy grows,” says Harding. “Hopefully, we’ll
get some new business in, which will help
everybody in the Baldwin-Hancock area. We
just thank [our customers] for their contin-
ued daily business, and if there’s anything we
can do in the future, please reach out to us.”
Milledgeville
Coca-Cola
Bottling
Company
Call us for your
Vending Needs!
Serving Milledgeville
Since 1913.
73 W 22 Hwy
Milledgeville, GA 31061
478-453-3755
200th l 43