Coca-Cola Enterprises celebrates 50th anniversary in East Kilbride with launch of commemorative ‘Year of Homecoming’ bottle
• East Kilbride factory marks 50 years of manufacturing excellence in Scotland
• First Minister Alex Salmond MSP, joins CCE’s Chairman and CEO, John Brock, to celebrate historic anniversary
Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) today celebrates the 50th anniversary of its East Kilbride factory, a landmark milestone in its ongoing commitment to manufacturing excellence and innovation in Scotland.
The anniversary coincides with CCE’s launch of an iconic ‘Year of Homecoming Bottle’. Designed by creative agency, Wolkoff Et Arnodin, the limited edition bottle has been produced to commemorate Scotland’s Homecoming celebrations throughout 2014, and follows the popular Robert Burns limited edition Coca-Cola bottle issued during Scotland’s first Year of Homecoming in 2009.
The anniversary celebrations were led by Jim Duddy, Operations Director at East Kilbride, who was joined by John Brock, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, and First Minister Alex Salmond MSP.
Jim Duddy, Operations Director at Coca-Cola Enterprises East Kilbride, says: “Our 50th anniversary demonstrates Coca-Cola Enterprises’ long-term commitment to the East Kilbride area and to manufacturing in Scotland as a whole. As a truly local business we are proud to be supporting such an iconic year in Scotland, with the launch of our new Homecoming bottle which is testament to the heritage we have built here in East Kilbride since the site first opened in 1964.”
John Brock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises, says: “At Coca-Cola Enterprises, we are passionate about making positive contributions to the communities in which we operate. East Kilbride is a great example of the legacy that our local sites can provide our communities while remaining focused on delivering manufacturing excellence throughout our operations in Great Britain and across Western Europe.”
First Minister Alex Salmond MSP said: “This is a spectacular Homecoming Year for Scotland as we welcome visitors from around the world. It is therefore a fantastic endorsement to have Coca-Cola, a truly iconic and global brand, recognise this exciting year with their new tartan bottle design.
“I am delighted with Coca-Cola Enterprises commitment to continue to invest in and support Scottish manufacturing and its place within the history of the local community here in East Kilbride.”
Best known for being the only manufacturing site in GB to produce Appletiser products in glass bottles, the East Kilbride site produces 16 million cases of soft drink each year, using four factory lines. In addition, the 155-strong production team produces other well-known brands including Dr Pepper, Sprite, and Fanta. The site was also the first of its kind to house an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) holding up to 14,000 pallets.
CCE recently announced that it is honouring two of its longest serving employees at East Kilbride. Local father and son team, Tam and Scott Bambrick, have been awarded the status of ‘Local Heroes’ for their role in helping to shape the factory’s history, since it opened in 1964. Between them the pair have clocked up an impressive 50 years working at the site.
CCE’s landmark anniversary in East Kilbride coincides with the recent announcement that CCE plans to invest £1 million a week as part of a £52m injection across GB this year, reaching a total of £227m of investment in its operations since 2011. The four year programme underlines CCE’s commitment to manufacturing excellence in Great Britain (GB), with a range of innovations in machinery and sustainable production.
