Coke Florida’s Jason Reed Contributes to Business Journal Manufacturing Think Tank

Photo Credit: SUPERNOLA STUDIOS

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is deeply committed to serving the community where we live, work, and play. As a local Coca-Cola bottler, Coke Florida manufactures, sells, warehouses, and distributes over 600 brands of The Coca-Cola Company. The local Coke Florida commitment includes a focus on manufacturing and optimization.

Jason Reed, Senior Vice President, Product Supply Network for Coke Florida, participated in a Tampa Bay Business Journal panel discussion in partnership with Southern States Material Handling. Joining Reed on the panel were leaders from Southern States Material Handling, Tampa Bay EDC, WinDoor High Performance Doors and Windows, Innovative Chemical Products Group, Seal Dynamics, and Tampa Economic Development Council, who discussed topics such as innovations, talent acquisition and strategies, as well as the outstanding impact manufacturing has had at the local and state level. The discussion served as a resource and think tank on how to help manufacturing flourish in the state.

Coke Florida has four manufacturing facilities across the state, including one in the Tampa Bay area, and the locally-owned Coca-Cola bottler manufactures more than 100M cases of product annually. The company also operates 18 sales and distribution centers across a footprint that extends from Jacksonville to the Keys.

“The expansion of large distribution centers and warehouses generates jobs and stimulates the emergence of supporting businesses, promising long-term economic vitality,” Reed said. “Despite short-term challenges, especially in rural areas with limited employee pools, the overall outlook points to growth for our communities.”

Coke Florida, a fully integrated consumer packaged goods company, experienced a 30-percent increase in company performance, which Reed attributes to the ability to stay agile and continue key partnerships throughout the state.

“Most Tampa Bay manufacturers have 25 or fewer employees, so owners often juggle roles like operations, HR and safety,” he said. “Managing interns or investing in development is tough. We have connected with larger manufacturers, creating a community for growth. Our quality and engineering team partners with suppliers, sending engineers for hands-on learning. They work on projects, shadow operators and learn new processes like welding.”

In the Tampa Bay region, Coke Florida is developing a new 800,000 SF Sales and Distribution Center that will nearly double its current warehouse capacity and position the company to support growth across Central Florida. Growth often leads to the emergence of new technologies. Within its facilities, Coke Florida is beginning to implement more automation. Automation offers Coke Florida associates the chance to learn and utilize a new set of skills in the competitive and ever-changing industry.

“Our warehouse operations are very manual,” Reed said. “We were cautious about going for cutting-edge, high-end automation, particularly for our liquid products, where the compatibility of liquids with electronics can be a concern. We opted for a ‘platform engineering’ approach, selecting equipment with common parts and systems across our network, ensuring quick access to parts and technical support within the U.S.”

Reed also serves as Chairperson of the Coca-Cola System’s National Product Supply Group (NPSG) Board of Directors. Reed has represented Coke Florida on the NPSG Board for over five years.

Named one of the US Best Managed Companies by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal for two years in a row, Coke Florida employs nearly 5,000 associates throughout Florida and services more than 21 million consumers. The company is headquartered in Tampa.

Click here to read more on the Leaders in manufacturing: Table of Experts panel from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.