BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal was joined by Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company President Darian Chustz, LED Secretary Stephen Moret, Mayor Kip Holden, and Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce President Adam Knapp to announce that Coca-Cola Bottling will expand its facility to add up to 113 new jobs with an average salary of $45,000 in the next four years.

Governor Bobby Jindal said, “Retaining and growing existing Louisiana businesses like Baton Rouge Coca-Cola works toward our fundamental goal of ensuring that our state becomes the best place in the world to raise a family, get a great education and pursue a rewarding career. Coca-Cola’s expansion and new job creation not only provides more opportunities for the people of our state, it also sends a clear signal to the nation that Louisiana is open for business and is competing to be the number one place for businesses to grow and succeed.”

Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company President Darian Chustz said, “Baton Rouge is perfectly positioned to be a southeastern regional hub for the Coca-Cola system and we are excited to play a key role in the expansion of our industry, as well as serve as a driver of economic growth in our community. We have confidence in our business and we are pleased to bring this new opportunity to Baton Rouge and Louisiana. We looked at other sites, but Baton Rouge was the most appealing because of our history in this area and the economic partnership that we have with the city and the state. We are building a world class facility and proud to have an opportunity to do so in Baton Rouge.”

As part of the expansion plan and related job growth announced today, Coca-Cola Bottling Company will expand its new Baton Rouge production and distribution facility by at least 270,000 square feet. This plan builds upon the company’s previously selected new plant location and sits on more than four times the acreage of the company’s original location and will be readily adaptable to future growth and economic development in the area.

Coca-Cola’s expansion and revised building design will increase its local productions capability to include the production of Powerade and Vitamin Water, which the company will distribute throughout Louisiana and neighboring states.

This $93 million expansion brings Coca-Cola’s local investment to $178 million. The Louisiana Economic Development Department provided a $1.4 million grant for two water wells and other site improvements for the expansion through its Economic Development Award Program.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said, “This is another great signal East Baton Rouge Parish is sending to businesses that have us on their radar for expansion or location. Our office helped Baton Rouge Coca-Cola connect with the resources they needed for a major expansion, enabling them to build even greater capacity, which brings more jobs to Baton Rouge.  We’re not just working together as a team; we’re on a winning streak.”

LED Secretary Stephen Moret said, “One of our primary new focus areas at LED is business retention and expansion.  This announcement is a terrific example of how local, regional, and state economic development leaders can work together to ensure that Louisiana businesses have every opportunity to grow and expand right here in our state.”

Chustz added, “We are extremely proud and excited that Baton Rouge Coca-Cola has committed to expanding their manufacturing facilities here in the Baton Rouge area,” said Knapp. “Our strategy of supporting existing businesses for new expansions is a critical part of our economic development program, and a win from an excellent global company like Coca-Cola demonstrates that these efforts will create growth for the entire regional business community.”

Coca-Cola expects to complete phase one of the expansion plans for the new site by the end of 2008, which will open three operational lines producing Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite and other sparkling beverages, as well as Dasani water. In phase two, the three additional lines will provide up to 113 new jobs over four years, bringing the company’s total employee base to more than 600.  In 2009, the facility will begin phase three and produce Powerade and Vitamin Water, followed by additional lines in 2010 and 2012. Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been in business for more than 100 years.