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End of the Line for Coca-Cola Save Email Print
Meridian, Miss.
Posted: 6:05 PM Jun 18, 2008
Last Updated: 7:16 PM Jun 18, 2008
Reporter: Chris Brennaman
Email Address: chris.brennaman@wtok.com

A | A | A

As expected, it was an emotional day at the Meridian Coca-Cola plant as the production line ran for the last time. The last bottle on the line contained not only the famous product, but memories as well.

Company president Hardy Graham, Sr., said the decision was made in May to permanently put a halt to the bottling line in Meridian. He said it was just getting too expensive to continue, as the company was purchasing about two-thirds of its product from other sources.

About three thousand cases of eight ounce glass bottles were filled during the last couple of runs to end the production line.

Each one was specially marked with a second date line that reads 1902-2008, the dates that Coca-Cola has operated as a bottler in Meridian.

The local company will continue to operate as a distribution center.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 19, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Hardy Graham said before a few people were retiring, a few transferred, but people are not losing their jobs. They still need employees to work the warehouse and deliver products. It will be a distribution center.

Posted by: Gary Location: Meridian on Jun 19, 2008 at 03:42 PM
If its not closing will they still employ the employees? Of course not! Thats the problem with Meridian,we can't get big business and can't keep the old one's.But you wait and watch a medium wade business buy that site.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 19, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Coca Cola Meridian is not shutting down. It will still operate here and employ people. But I agree it's sad that the product won't be made here anymore.

Posted by: B Harris Location: Marion, MS on Jun 19, 2008 at 08:57 AM
It is a shame. That's all, a rotten shame. Shame on Meridian. We need industry in order to grow. Retail just cannot support retail. I don't guess anyone will ever understand that.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 18, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I remember touring the facility in school in the 70s. End of an era!

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