Midwest Coke bottler will buy Tullahoma distributor

113-year-old facility distributes products in 30 counties in Tennessee and Kentucky

A Midwest Coca-Cola bottler and craft beer distributor is expanding into Tennessee by buying a 113-year-old Coke bottler headquartered near where the soft drink giant was first bottled 120 years ago.

Reyes Holdings L.L.C., which is headquartered outside of Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois, said Tuesday it is expanding South by agreeing to buy Coca-Cola Bottling Works of Tullahoma, Tennessee, just west of Chattanooga where Coke was first bottled in 1899.

The family-owned Tullahoma bottler traces its founding to 1906 and now distributes Coca-Cola products in 30 counties in Tennessee and Kentucky.

“We truly enjoy being a part of the Coca-Cola system and are excited by this opportunity to grow our Coca-Cola business into Tennessee and Kentucky,” said Chris Reyes, founder and co-chairman of Reyes Holdings.

Reyes said the companies have reached an agreement for the sale of the Tullahoma bottler, which has about 200 workers, and the deal is expected to close by the end of September.

Reyes currently operates in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern Indiana and Wisconsin. Reyes Holdings also owns Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, which has extensive operations in California and Nevada.

Jordan Ennis, president and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Works of Tullahoma, said his company operates distribution centers in Clarksville, Tennessee and in Elizabethtown and Owensboro, Kentucky, in addition to its headquarters and warehouse in Tullahoma.

“As a family-owned business for four generations, we are looking forward to the possibilities for our operations and territory as part of another family-owned company, Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling,” he said.

Reyes Holdings delivers more than 1.3 billion cases of beverage and food products a year from over 170 locations across the world.

The parent company includes Reyes Beer Division, the largest beer distributor in the United States representing import, craft and domestic beer brands; The MartinBrower Co. L.L.C., a global quick-service restaurant distribution business and the largest supplier worldwide of distribution services to the McDonald’s restaurant system; and Reinhart Foodservice L.L.C., one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States.