Coke Consolidated Equipment Services Team Handles Largest Local Market Conversion

Two iconic brands have come together to provide refreshing and tasty options for Midwest customers across 140 locations. Coca-Cola Consolidated is Skyline Chili’s newest beverage partner. Thousands of families, sports fans, event attendees, and theme park attendees are now pairing a Coca-Cola beverage with one of Skyline Chili’s famous menu options.

“Skyline Chili is beloved across the region, and we couldn’t be more excited to add Coca-Cola products to the lineup of iconic food served by Skyline for the last 75 years,” said Robert Chambless, Executive Vice President of Coca-Cola Consolidated’s Franchise Beverage Operations. “Pairing Skyline’s 3-Way Chili and Cheese Coneys with Coca-Cola is a perfect match and as the local bottler we can’t wait to serve Skyline customers alongside this great partner for many years to come.”

It’s a transition that goes back to Skyline’s roots. When Skyline first opened in 1949, they served Coke products at the counter. Coca-Cola Consolidated is glad to come back home to Skyline.

“Going forward, we are excited to be aligned with Coca-Cola and its powerful lineup of beverage options. Aligning with the pre-eminent soda brand in the country is one of the many great ways we celebrate the arrival of our 75th anniversary,” said Dick Williams, CEO of Skyline Chili.

In addition to numerous restaurant locations, Skyline Chili is the “official chili” of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Cyclones, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Kings Island theme park. Additionally, Skyline Chili sponsors the Crosstown Shootout, an annual men’s college basketball rivalry game. Fans can choose from an array of Coca-Cola products, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Cherry Coca-Cola, Sprite, Minute Maid Lemonade, Mello Yello, Fanta, and Barq’s Root Beer.

“We are proud to have Coke products at our Skyline Chili locations. Coke is such a global brand; it’s a big deal that Skyline is now associated with Coca-Cola,” said Becky Shelton, President of One Holland Group. “I definitely think it’s already made an impact.”

Baseball fans at the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ballpark had the chance to celebrate the new partnership in April, when the ballpark began offering Coca-Cola refreshments during the MLB season. David Collins, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Cincinnati Reds, shares that the new partnership is a “huge win.”

“Here at the Reds, we are very excited to have Coke as a long-standing partner. Coke is a brand that means a lot; We know that Coke is a brand that could choose to be anywhere, and we are thrilled they’re here,” said Collins. “We are excited at the prospect of being together for many years to come.”

Each sip of a Coke Zero or Sprite at a Skyline restaurant or during a game is the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes.

“Our Equipment Services (EQS) team has been instrumental in replacing equipment and surveying the placement of our refreshments into new locations. They worked a lot of very early mornings and overnights,” said Michael McPeek, Director of Equipment Services at Coke Consolidated.

For months, teams – especially Equipment Services Teammates – worked diligently to make the transition to drinking Coca-Cola beverages easy.

“They are part of company history, as this is the largest local market conversion in Coca-Cola Consolidated’s history,” said Jed Thomas, SVP of Equipment Sales and Services, at Coke Consolidated. “Seeing the Coca-Cola brand in new locations across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida is a home run for all involved.”

For everyone, the culmination of hard work is a point of pride.

“I take great pride in the fact that I’m part of the team that fuels the community’s thirst,” said Aaron Martin, Equipment Services Territory Manager with Coca-Cola Consolidated. “Thank you to the EQS team in Cincinnati and all the departments that had their hand in the partnership. It’s rewarding to know fans can go to a Reds game or anywhere in Cincinnati and enjoy Skyline Chili and a Coke because our team is taking care of any issue and working tirelessly to install the product there.”