A major investment is coming to Central Louisiana as Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED plans a $106 million expansion of its Alexandria operation, a project expected to bring dozens of new permanent jobs and hundreds of construction jobs to the area.

The company plans to modernize and expand its existing warehouse and distribution operations on Coliseum Boulevard in Alexandria, adding advanced automation technology designed to improve warehouse efficiency, order fulfillment and distribution throughout the region.

The project is expected to create approximately 75 new permanent jobs and about 200 construction jobs during the expansion. The investment will also help retain Coca-Cola UNITED’s existing workforce at the Alexandria facility, adding to the overall economic impact of the project in Central Louisiana.

The Alexandria Coca-Cola Bottling Company is located at 7400 Coliseum Blvd. and serves as one of Coca-Cola UNITED’s Louisiana sales and distribution centers. The company also operates locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.

A major focus of the Alexandria project will be warehouse automation. The new technology is designed to make the movement of products through the facility more efficient while improving order fulfillment and distribution to customers throughout the region.

Coca-Cola UNITED has made similar investments in its Louisiana operations in recent years, including improvements at its Baton Rouge facility that incorporated automated warehouse technology. The investments are part of the company’s efforts to modernize its operations and meet customer demand.

The company has a long history in Central Louisiana, with Coca-Cola operations in the area dating back approximately 120 years. Company officials said the latest investment reflects a continued commitment to employees, customers and the communities it serves.

Specific details on when construction will begin, when the expansion will be completed and when hiring will begin for the approximately 75 new positions have not yet been announced.

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