How Coca-Cola Beverages Florida is Empowering Innovation

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, representing a decade of the company's growth, innovation and commitment to local Florida communities.

Founded in 2015, Coke Florida began its sales and distribution operations in central Florida and acquired north and south Florida operations within 22 months. Today, the family-owned company operates in an exclusive territory that spans from Jacksonville to the Florida Keys.

This operating footprint allows it to serve over 21 million consumers and the 140 million travellers who visit Florida each year.

"From the first truck that rolled out of our Tampa facility on May 30, 2015 to today, I am immensely proud of our growth, success and contributions over the past decade," says Troy Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Coke Florida.

"When we set out on this journey, we never said we wanted to be the biggest bottler in the country; we said we wanted to be the best. I often share that our two biggest assets are our brands and our people, and I truly believe that we have the best beverage brands in the world and the best team at Coke Florida.

"We have big plans for the future, and we're just getting started."

Building infrastructure for the future

Over the years, the business invested substantial sums into infrastructure across the state, creating jobs and economic activity in local communities.

Since its inception, Coke Florida has built a new facility in St. Petersburg, and purchased and expanded facilities in Jacksonville, Orlando, Ocala, Sarasota and Winter Haven.

Most recently, the company completed a new 800,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Distribution Centre with a 250,000 square foot fleet maintenance facility in Tampa Bay.

Coke Florida has also scaled its delivery capabilities by greatly expanding and diversifying its fleet, and today is recognised by Transport Topics as the eighth largest private beverage fleet in the US.

The new Tampa Distribution Centre and Fleet Facility underscores Coke Florida's commitment to growth and dedication to local economic development. The facilities were constructed entirely using Florida-based contractors and vendors. Sustainability was also a core focus in the site's development, leading to the addition of wetlands, solar stations, trees and apiaries to the property.

Troy adds: "We said we were going to be a part of this community forever and we meant it. For us, it's not just serving the best beverages to our consumers, not just being great partners to our customers, but also being an integral part of the fabric of the community each day."

Deep roots in community commitment

Rooted in the communities they serve, Coke Florida operates as a locally owned company driven by three core commitments: environmental stewardship, educational advancement and economic empowerment.

The company's environmental initiatives have created lasting impact across Florida. Its reforestation efforts have resulted in 600,000 trees and native plant species taking root throughout the region.

Through collaboration with the USF Stavros Centre, it has also developed the Sustainability Superheroes programme, equipping educators with practical tools to integrate environmental education into their classrooms. Additionally, its water conservation efforts have distributed hundreds of rain barrels alongside educational workshops, empowering residents to practise responsible water stewardship.

Educational partnerships form the backbone of Coke Florida's community investment strategy. Working alongside organisations like Boys & Girls Clubs, The Skills Centre and Big Brothers Big Sisters, the company addresses educational gaps where they matter most.

Their comprehensive approach includes annual backpack drives, technology lab investments, laptop donations and digital literacy training workshops.

The crown jewel of its educational commitment launched in 2023: the Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ programme. This decade-long, US$2.8m initiative provides complete tuition coverage for both two-year and four-year degrees, specifically targeting students from economically disadvantaged communities.

Housing stability drives economic opportunity, which is why Coke Florida maintains a steadfast partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Over the past decade, its commitment has translated into tangible results: 19 newly constructed homes, over US$1.5m in financial contributions and more than 3,600 volunteer hours from company team members.

This comprehensive approach to community engagement operates within a framework of business excellence. Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal have recognised Coke Florida as a 2025 US Best Managed Company for the fourth consecutive year, earning them Gold Standard Winner status.

This prestigious award acknowledges exceptional performance across strategy development, operational execution, organisational culture, financial management and corporate governance.

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