Coca-Cola reorganizes international operations with factory closures

Coca-Cola is undergoing an international operational reorganization involving factory closures, job reductions, and product line changes. The restructuring has primarily impacted units in the United States and South Africa, affecting more than 900 workers in total.

In the United States, two non-carbonated beverage facilities producing brands such as Minute Maid, Powerade, Vitaminwater, and Gold Peak Tea were affected. A California plant closed in June 2025, resulting in 135 layoffs, while a facility in Northampton, Massachusetts, is scheduled to close in December 2026, impacting approximately 175 employees. Additionally, the company ended its frozen concentrate line for Minute Maid in the U.S. and Canada in 2026.

In South Africa, restructuring efforts began in 2025. Following negotiations involving over 680 workers, 609 employees opted for layoffs in October 2025. A labor court confirmed the closure of the Bloemfontein factory in March 2026, and the East London unit also underwent changes.

The company stated the strategy aims to concentrate production in other facilities and through partners to respond to shifting consumer preferences toward premium, functional, and lower-sugar beverages. Conversely, operations in Brazil remain unaffected, with the Coca-Cola System planning to invest R$ 30 billion by 2030 to modernize and expand its local infrastructure.