Sacramento Coca-Cola – A family affair

Although Coca-Cola was invented by John Pemberton in Atlanta in 1886, it was not until 1909 that it was introduced in the Sacramento area. At that time, Coca-Cola was not well known or widely distributed across the country. Coca-Cola products were delivered back then in horse-drawn carriages.

In 1927, about the same time that the bell-shaped Coca-Cola glass was adopted as the standard, Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co. was born when Nathan M. Sellers acquired the rights to sell Coca-Cola in most of Northern California, north of San Francisco. As an independent bottler, the company was, and still is, owned and operated independently of The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta.

Nathan Sellers would continue to head the company throughout the turbulent 30’s and the war torn 40’s, until his death in August of 1954. Thereafter, his wife, Gladys Sellers, assumed the position of company President and appointed her son, Jack Sellers Sr., general manager. Gladys Sellers guided the company through the 50’s and 60’s, succumbing to illness in 1972. From November 1972 until his untimely death in July of 1973, Jack W. Sellers, Sr. served as President.

July 1973 found Sacramento Coca-Cola headed again by a female, as Jack Sellers’ sister, Virginia R. Roper, assumed the Presidency. At the same time, Jack Sellers' sons assumed executive positions in the company, with Ronald L. Sellers serving as the Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jack W. Sellers, Jr., as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and Stephen M. Sellers, Sr., as Vice President of Operations.

In November of 1991, Mrs. Roper retired from the Presidency of the company, remaining on its Board of Directors. Ronald L. Sellers assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer; Jack W. Sellers, Jr. became Chairman of the Board; and Stephen M. Sellers, Sr. was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Tragically, both Ron Sellers and Virginia Roper passed away in 2007 within six weeks of each other. That led to yet another reorganization of the Board and management structure. Stephen M. Sellers, Sr. was elected as Chairman of the Board, while Jack W. Sellers, Jr. was named Chairman Emeritus of the Board. Day-to-day management of the Company was assumed by Robin J. Siebers, who was named President & Chief Executive Officer. Robert M. Brown was promoted to Executive Vice President – Finance & Administration, while Robert E. Dodero continued in his role as Vice President of Manufacturing.

Sacramento Coca-Cola – Dynamic expansion

The original Sacramento Coca-Cola plant facilities were located in the 3400 block of Sacramento Boulevard (now known as Martin Luther King Blvd). In mid-1935, construction began on a new plant at 2200 Stockton Boulevard. It was completed and occupied during June, 1936. At that time, the only product produced by the company was Coca-Cola in the green glass, original shaped, 6-1/2-ounce bottle.

As the sales volume increased over the years, the company eventually outgrew its plant on Stockton Blvd. The Sales and Marketing Division, as well as warehouse operations and fleet maintenance activities, moved into various facilities in North Highlands. Over an approximate 30-year period of time, these three activities were relocated several times and, in October 1995, reassembled in the current headquarters in North Natomas, near ARCO Arena and the Raley’s Distribution Center.

In addition to the Natomas complex, Sacramento Coca-Cola continues bottling and canning at the Stockton Blvd plant. Renovations at the landmark building keep the manufacturing capability at state of the art efficiency and production, thus providing the Sales Division with sufficient supply to meet the growing demand for both traditional and new products and packages. In 2008, the Company broke ground on a significant expansion of the Natomas facility, adding nearly 100,000 square feet to accommodate the growing array of products and packages manufactured and distributed throughout the territory.

Sacramento Coca-Cola also owns and operates a Sales and Service facility in Modesto. In total, all or parts of 9 counties in the central valley are serviced by Sacramento Coca-Cola.

Sacramento Coca-Cola – A bright future

In 2002, the Sellers family observed its 75th anniversary as a bottler of products of The Coca-Cola Company. This milestone could not have been achieved without the dedication and hard work of literally thousands of loyal employees over the years.

With a bright and profitable future forecast, Sacramento Coca-Cola continues to grow and prosper. We remain a committed contributor to the local communities of the California Central Valley, offering viable and rewarding employment to hundreds while furnishing refreshment to millions with the number one soft drink in the world!