A year after breaking ground, the Coca-Cola Company has opened its new 226,000-square-foot facility on Route 130 in South Brunswick that is expected to employ 1,250.
The facility is a state-of-the-art sustainable sales and distribution center that consolidates Coca-Cola’s operations from Asbury Park, Parsippany, and from its longtime distribution site at 1500 Livingston Avenue in North Brunswick.
Though the company credits its interaction with the state Business Action Center as a reason it stayed in New Jersey, the soft drink giant is not receiving any state retention incentives. The Business Action Center, however, did work closely with Coca-Cola as it moved through the construction of the South Brunswick plant. The New Jersey Business Action Center was created in January of 2010, specifically to bolster the state’s appeal for businesses. The center provides information and forms for companies looking to do business in the state and works with large companies considering moving to or from New Jersey.
The Coca-Cola deal is a major feather in the center’s cap, but its other successes include keeping major chemical, pharma, and electronics companies, such as Allergan, BASF, Honeywell, Bayer, Church & Dwight, and Panasonic, in New Jersey. According to the center, its efforts have helped retain or create 35,000 jobs and helped generate $5.3 billion in total public-private investment in the state.
#b#Coca-Cola Enterprises#/b#, Route 130, South Brunswick 08902; 732-246-3300; fax, 732-729-4293. Ray Vendber, plant manager. www.cocacola.com
