FARMINGTON – Coca-Cola celebrated the grand opening of its newly-renovated Sales and Distribution Center on High Street, inviting employees and community members to an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday evening.
The plant has a 94-year-old history in the Farmington community, going back to the Trask family opening the plant more than 90 years ago. Recently, the sales and distribution center was acquired by Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. The new owners invested more than $1 million in the facility, with a number of local contractors completing 20,865-square-foot of new construction, including a newly-renovated warehouse and loading docks. The project also included landscape improvements, parking lot restorations, and electrical and energy efficiency work.
The facility will be served by a new delivery fleet, including two 2016 SideLoad trucks and two 2015 MiniBulk trucks.
“We saw a significant opportunity to invest in Farmington and are working hard to build a world-class Coca-Cola market,” said Paul Herring, New England Market Unit General Manager for Coca-Cola Refreshments. “Because Farmington is a community with a long Coca-Cola history, we intend to continue the tradition of great customer service and community engagement the Trask family started more than 90 years ago.”
Farmington Coca-Cola has been a part of the Coca-Cola system since 1922, when the Trask family acquired the rights to sell Coca-Cola in northern Maine. It remained in the Trask family until 2014. The Farmington operation will manage sales and distribution of more than 250 Coca-Cola products in Franklin and Somerset Counties, serving more than 500 customers in the region.
Speaking briefly at the event, District Sales Manager Walter O’Brien with Coca-Cola Refreshments, recognized the work of two employees: James “JD” Dunham, who has been with the company 30 years, and Les Brown, who worked for 42 years.
“We’ll try to make you proud,” O’Brien told Brown. “Hopefully, we can all watch the business grow.”
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce President Glenn Kapiloff congratulated the Farmington Coca-Cola Company for the renovations and reopening.
“We are pleased to have Coca-Cola as a member of the Farmington business community and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce,” Kapiloff said as part of a prepared statement. “We wish them well as they move forward with their business goals for the future.”
Great event and very impressive facility. The Farmington Coca-Cola employees have always been outstanding members of our community and I am so glad to see new investments being made here in our home town that will promote future growth and success. Keep up the good work!
FYI The coke plant was started by Cassius Wilbur Clark.
It is difficult to say anything about the “Coke plant” without knowing “Cash” Clark and what he brought to the community
To,My Family The Clark Family, who dedicated their life to owning and operating Farmington Coca Cola Thank you to my Grandparents Cash and Persis Clark,my Gram,who never missed a day and to my Dad Tom Clark who dedicated his life and gave alot of people jobs!!! to my Brother Billy who worked many hours and never complained to my Dad.and my brother David. The work ethics you gave us has been passed on!!! You Make me proud to be a CLARK!!!!
This event was great! So much fun had by all…the Coca-Cola facility may have crossed hands a few times but lets not only remember where it came from but where it is going! There are some amazing folks who work so very hard from past and present. Recognition does not go unnoticed of who started the facility.. congrats to the wonderful staff and to the community in which we live in!