Meet Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Santa Fe
The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Santa Fe supplies Coca-Cola – the most popular soft drink in the world – as well as Sprite, Dr Pepper, and a growing selection of beverages.
Since 1919, the Hart family has grown the company, blending tradition, innovation, and Coca-Cola products with northern New Mexicans’ tastes and community needs.
As one of the nation’s few independently owned Coca-Cola bottling companies, we believe in:
- Hiring locally and partnering with retail customers
- Supplying an expanding array of beverage options
- Supporting local communities
- Continuing our proud New Mexican heritage and traditions
Coca-Cola’s company mission: Quality – Price – Service, has stayed the same since 1919. “We will distribute a quality product, at a competitive price with exceptional service.”
- Service is where we make a difference to our customers.
- We strive to be the leader within our category.
- We are dedicated to the communities throughout northern New Mexico.
- When a customer has a need or an opportunity in a store, they only have to make one call.
Founder James A. Hart, was born in Pennsylvania in 1897, and grew up in Albuquerque training to be an electrician. After serving in the Army during World War I, he purchased the Coke franchise in December 1919 for Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos and, later, Los Alamos counties, and started bottling Coke in Santa Fe in early 1920.
The Hart family bottled and distributed Coca-Cola in northern New Mexico between 1920 and 1979. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Santa Fe then expanded with bottling plants in Portales, New Mexico and Nacogdoches, Texas as part of a cooperative of bottling partners.
“Grandfather had one mission when he started the company bottling Coke and 14 other flavors. In fact, Coke didn’t sell very well. He couldn’t even give it away,” grandson Ron Hart remembers with a chuckle. “In those days, it took an hour using a foot-pumped machine to bottle a week’s supply for distribution to stores like Kaune’s Grocery and Santa Fe Hay and Grain.”
Eighteen members of the Hart Family have helped grow the company over four generations. Today, the independently owned family business continues the Coca-Cola tradition with five grandchildren working in key facets of the company. The Board is composed entirely of family members.
From a horse-drawn buggy to a fleet of 50 service vehicles, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Santa Fe, along with surrounding communities, has grown significantly over the decades.
As the second largest private employer in northern New Mexico, the company distributes over 500 different products in a 65,000 square foot facility located right in the heart of Santa Fe.
Learn more about Coca-Cola’s commitment to New Mexico and the community we’ve been a part of since 1897 at coca-colasantafe.com, call us at 505.983.4612, or write us at 660 West San Mateo Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.