Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company (Heartland Coca-Cola) today announced the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art production campus in Olathe, KS. The new Olathe Production Campus (OPC) represents a significant “generational” investment in the region, supporting local economic growth and enhancing the company’s production capabilities.
Heartland Coca-Cola is an anchor bottler in the Midwest serving Kansas, Missouri, Southern Illinois, along with counties in Iowa and Nebraska. Founded in 2017 by successful former NBA professional and business leader, Junior Bridgeman, Heartland serves 25,000 customers, 10 million consumers, and sells more than 50 million cases annually in its territory.
“The OPC is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the Heartland region, our employees, and our customers,” said Heartland Coca-Cola CEO Justin Bridgeman. “With this world-class, state-of-the-art facility, we’re not just meeting today’s demands—we’re building for the future. This campus allows us to innovate faster, produce more sustainably, and deliver the beverages our consumers love with greater precision and care. Just as important, it enables us to train and equip our employees with 21st century technology and skills—ensuring they’re prepared to lead the way in a rapidly evolving industry. It’s a major step forward in our journey to be the best bottler in the Coca-Cola system and a long-term partner in the communities we serve.”
Heartland Coca-Cola’s Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting included a special tribute honored Heartland’s late CEO and owner, Junior Bridgeman, with the unveiling of a mural painted by Heartland Coca-Cola employee, Jacob Birdsong. The event continued with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by tours of the production facility.
“This event marks a defining milestone for Heartland Coca-Cola,” said Chuck Wyant, President and Chief Operating Officer. “When Junior Bridgeman first envisioned this project, he challenged us to build more than just a production facility—he wanted to create a platform for long-term growth, innovation, and opportunity. Today, that vision comes to life. The OPC is now one of the most advanced production facilities in the nation, and it gives us the ability to control our own destiny, respond faster to customer needs, and empower our people to succeed for generations to come.”
The new 700,000 square foot campus sits on 150 acres and houses four state-of-the-art production lines—two for aluminum cans and two for PET bottles—engineered to support a wide variety of pack sizes and beverage types, including carbonated soft drinks and still beverages. With can line speeds reaching up to 2,000 cans per minute and PET lines producing up to 900 bottles per minute, the facility’s packaging capability accommodates everything from 7.5 oz slim cans to 2-liter PET bottles. The plant leverages advanced QA/QC processes such as inline CO₂ and sugar content monitoring, automated can and bottle inspection, and precision labeling and coding systems. Integrated product order management, laser-guided vehicles (LGVs) for intra-facility transport, and automated trailer loading systems streamline logistics and warehouse operations across 52 dock doors. The on-site Water Renewal Center (WRC) processes up to 264,000 gallons of wastewater daily, using a combination of anaerobic and aerobic treatment tanks that also generate renewable biogas to power parts of the facility. Additional highlights include energy-efficient equipment, lightweight packaging innovations, and a recycling center that recovers and repurposes all major packaging materials.
“This state-of-the-art production campus and continued partnership is opening new doors of opportunity for a regional distribution powerhouse,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Heartland’s generational investment will fuel its cutting-edge production lines and bring new opportunities for employees to grow, develop new skills and advance their professional careers here in Kansas.”
These advancements will enable Heartland Coca-Cola to increase production capacity to meet growing consumer demand; improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact and sustainability; enhance product quality and innovation; and enhance the work of our employees.
“We are thrilled to have Heartland Coca-Cola and their employees as a part of the Olathe community,” said Olathe Mayor John Bacon. “In just two years they’ve already proven to be a terrific community partner, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.”
Heartland Coca-Cola is committed to being a strong community partner. The company plans to continue its support of local initiatives and organizations through various programs and partnerships. One partnership that was a highlight at the event was the collaboration Heartland has with the Gardiner-Edgerton School District faculty and students to design, and install, a sustainable landscaping project that featured the work of students from the district, promoting sustainability, recycling, and water stewardship.
About Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC:
Based in Lenexa, Kan., Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC was founded in early 2017 by successful former NBA professional and business leader Junior Bridgeman. Bridgeman’s longstanding connection to Coca-Cola and the Midwest began 30 years earlier during his NBA career, when he volunteered at basketball clinics sponsored by the company. His partnership with Coca-Cola continued as he built several notable restaurant franchise operations and led to the establishment of Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Today, Heartland is an anchor Coca-Cola bottler in the Midwest, proudly serving over 25,000 customers across Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. The Bridgeman family’s founding principles guide the organization’s daily operations: putting people first by creating a culture of value and inclusion; connecting with and serving its local communities; and providing the highest quality products and service to its customers and consumers. For more information on the company, please visit www.heartlandcocacola.com.