Meridian Coca Cola Bottling Company

“I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” (most iconic Coke ad)

Coca-Cola was invented in the late 19^th century and continues to dominate the food and drink industry today as the most popular soft drink in the world. John S. Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, invented Coca-Cola in 1886. He sold the formula and brand to Asa Candler in 1889 for $2300, and Candler incorporated The Coca-Cola Company. Meridian Coca -Cola was the first franchise bottler in the state of MS. The franchise was established in 1902 as a part of the Louisiana Company out of New Orleans. The Louisiana Company had territory that followed the rail lines and Meridian was a part of that territory. The story goes that it went bankrupt. “My great grandfather, Richard Newell Poindexter, was in the Coca-Cola business in the Carolinas and came down and purchased Meridian Coca-Cola in 1904, in bankruptcy court. My family has owned and operated Meridian Coca-Cola ever since. My great-grandfather Richard Poindexter; my great-uncle Zed Hawkins; my father Hardy Graham, Sr.; and a few years ago, I started to run the company. That’s four generations,” says Hardy Graham, Jr., President.

Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company is a supplier of Coca-Cola licensed products in East MS and West Al. They distribute about 400 different packages and flavors. With 94 employees, they deliver to offices, grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores and schools as far as 105 miles away. The warehouse has 120,000 cases and would be empty in 10 days if it wasn’t restocked. Consumers in Meridian are extremely loyal to Coke products and brands. The Meridian plant has one of the highest per capita consumption rates in the whole country.

Coca Cola is a soft drink that everyone has been drinking since they were children. Coke has really expanded into the health drinks that people want right now. You can choose from a wide selection of products such as smart water, Dasani, and vitamin water, in addition to their soft drinks.

“We love doing business in Meridian. We want to help support our community, economy, and business, because the community has given so much to us. The work that the chamber does is crucial to growing our area. The only way we are going to expand as a business is to get more people in Meridian, and that means more businesses,” adds Hardy. “We believe in our product, our employees, and our customers. We want to be good caretakers of our environment and our community. We want to be a place where people want to come work. As a 4^th generation owner, my job is to be a steward of this business and pass it on to the next generation in as good or better condition that I received it.”

And coke is one of the most successful names in American business. Coca Cola’s fascinating beginnings turned into one of the largest, most popular and biggest-selling soft drink brands in history. And it’s a part of many of our childhood memories. Did you ever pour a bag of salted peanuts in your bottle of coke?

Meridian Coca Cola Bottling Company
2016 Hwy 45 N., Meridian, MS