FDBusiness.com

The Coca-Cola Company has announced an investment of €26 million in its Ballina operation in County Mayo in Ireland. The capital investment further strengthens the company’s commitment to Ireland as the Ballina facility becomes the first production site for the company’s innovative Freestyle technology outside of the United States. An additional 25 new jobs will be created in Ballina over the next three years as part of this investment.

The Coca-Cola Freestyle patented technology is a touch screen soda fountain which was first introduced by the company in the US in 2010. The dispenser features more than 165 different Coca Cola beverage choices from across the company’s full product range, including a choice of lower-calorie and no-calorie options, as well as sports drinks and fruit flavoured drinks. Freestyle empowers consumers to choose what is right for them. Consumers can find their favourite or discover something new

More than 40,000 Coca-Cola Freestyle machines can already be found across the US, and in recent years has undergone extensive market testing with customers in parts of Europe. The current investment will facilitate wider expansion of the Freestyle model into key European markets with the demand from ten countries expected to be met by the production team in Ballina. The team based in Ballina has been instrumental in developing the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines produced specifically for the European market.

Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company.

Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company, comments: “The Coca-Cola Company has a long history of investment and employment in Ireland having first located operations in Northern Ireland in 1934. The Coca-Cola system now employs 1,750 people across six locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

He adds: “We are delighted to be in a position to further invest here and to support the Government’s job creation and growth strategy for the economy. The success we have long enjoyed in Ireland is thanks both to the support of the Government and its agencies as well as to the talent of our teams working throughout the country.”

Martin Shanahan, chief executive of IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Authority), says: “It’s excellent news that Coca-Cola’s is investing €26 million in its Ballina plant to allow the production of its Freestyle technology here. It demonstrates real commitment by the company to its Mayo operations and is a strong endorsement of Ballina and the region as a suitable location for this type of manufacturing. Coca-Cola is already a strong employer across its six locations in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the 25 new jobs being created in Ballina will be a further boost to the region.”

In addition to Ballina, the Coca-Cola system also operates facilities in Antrim, Dublin, Kildare, Louth and Wexford in Ireland.