ATLANTA, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coca-Cola Company and several of its key U.S. Bottlers announced today that they will work together to develop and test new customer service and distribution systems to supplement their powerful direct store delivery (DSD) system. In conjunction with this agreement, the bottlers participating in this initiative will dismiss without prejudice the current lawsuits pending in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, and Circuit Court of Jefferson County in Birmingham, AL. Representatives of the plaintiff bottlers have already agreed to the initiative and it is hoped that all U. S. Bottlers will participate.

"Our bottling system is our heritage, and it will be the foundation for our future growth. The partnership with our bottlers is what makes the Coca- Cola System powerful and unique, and we will work diligently to ensure that we move forward and succeed together," said J.A.M. "Sandy" Douglas, president, Coca-Cola North America. "One of the historic strengths of our system has been its ability to change and adapt as our consumers, customers and competitors have changed. By working together on new customer service and distribution systems, we will ensure that our System's second century is as bright as ever."

"The entire system should be pleased that we reached a solution which preserves our fundamental strengths, but creates a path to adjust to meet the current needs of an evolving marketplace," said Hager Rand, president of the Coca-Cola Bottlers' Association, and president and chairman of the Board, Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Under the agreement, the Company will join U.S. Coca-Cola Bottlers in testing various new route to market service systems to bring Company products to customers who require special services.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.3 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

Source: The Coca-Cola Company