New Bottler to Join U.S. Coca-Cola System; Three Existing Bottlers Sign Letters of Intent to Expand

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced continued progress in refranchising its North American bottling operations, with expanded territories for three bottlers and the addition of a new, independent bottler. The Coca-Cola system’s newest bottler is led by Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, founder of a Louisville, Ky., company named Manna Inc. Bridgeman is a former NBA player who first established his business interests by purchasing three Wendy’s franchises while he was still