SPRINGFIELD, MO, September 17, 2026 – Following the release of the Coca-Cola system’s new U.S. Economic and Community Impact results this week, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company in Springfield celebrated its role in the company system’s contribution of $85 billion to the U.S. economy.
The nationwide results underscore how The Coca-Cola Company and its 61 independent bottling partners— including Ozarks Coca-Cola —operate as a powerful, interconnected engine of American economic growth. Nationwide, the system supports a million jobs and purchased $37 billion in goods and services from U.S. suppliers last year. The Coca‑Cola Company partnered with Steward Redqueen for a second time to conduct this study.
Economic Impact on the Ozarks Region
As a local bottling partner serving the Ozarks region and with branches in Springfield, Bolivar, Joplin, Rolla, West Plains and Northwest Arkansas, Ozarks Coca-Cola is a key driver of this impact. Last year in Missouri, The Coca-Cola Company purchased $55 million in goods and services from American suppliers and for each Coca-Cola system job in the state, 11 additional jobs were supported. Ozarks Coca-Cola is the only beverage manufacturer in the state of Missouri.
“We are incredibly proud to be the hometown face of the Coca-Cola system across the Ozarks,” said Sally Hargis, chairman of the board of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company. “For more than a century, our company has been rooted in the communities we serve. Every bottle and can we produce, every delivery we make, and every customer relationship we build helps support local families, businesses and economic growth. The Ozarks is one of Missouri’s most dynamic regions, and we are proud to contribute to its continued momentum. When our company grows, so do the communities we call home.”
A Ripple Effect Across the Value Chain
The economic impact of the Coca-Cola system spans all 50 states, with 25 states each contributing more than $1 billion in annual economic activity. For every direct job linked to the Coca-Cola system, nine additional jobs are supported across the wider value chain. The Coca-Cola system keeps 98 cents of every dollar spent on its beverage products in the U.S. economy by sourcing, employing, producing, and distributing locally.
Investing in the Future
The Coca-Cola system plans to invest $10 billion in U.S. infrastructure, including new or expanded production, distribution, and office facilities over the next 5 years.
At the local level, Ozarks Coca-Cola continues to reinvest in its footprint. In 2025, the company completed a two-phase expansion project. The 67,750-square-foot manufacturing facility and the first can line for the company were completed in late spring 2024, while a 47,625-square-foot office space was finalized in March 2025.
“Good stewardship has always been a cornerstone of our business,” said Hargis. “By investing in technology, infrastructure and efficiency improvements throughout our operations, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers, create opportunities for our associates and build a more sustainable future. These investments reflect our long-term commitment to the people and communities that have supported us for generations.”
Deep Community Roots
The system’s collective impact also extends to community prosperity. In 2025, The Coca-Cola system, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation invested a combined $177 million in community initiatives in the U.S., including $60 million in education and economic empowerment.
Ozarks Coca-Cola places a strong emphasis on supporting programs and initiatives that improve the communities where its customers and associates live and work including local scholarships and supporting community organizations such as Ozarks Food Harvest, Boys & Girls Clubs, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, and United Way.
About Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned bottler operating in Missouri for over 100 years. Founded by the Rice family in 1920, Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper products are manufactured in Springfield, with sales and distribution branches in Springfield, Bolivar, Joplin, Rolla, West Plains, and Northwest Arkansas. The company distributes over 650 Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper products across Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and employs more than 900 associates. More information about Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company is available at www.cocacolaozarks.com.
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Reference:
Wren Hall, Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications
Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
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