Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated has entered into a definitive agreement with The Coca-Cola Company to offer its distribution services in Cleveland and Cookeville, in Tennessee.

Currently, the distribution services are being provided by Coca-Cola Refreshments USA (CCR).

This agreement is a part of the earlier-announced Letter of Intent between the Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated and The Coca-ColaCompany for franchise territory expansion.

As per the agreed terms, Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated will receive rights to distribute brands owned by The Coca-Cola Company.

Additionally, it will receive rights for certain other brands not owned by The Coca-Cola Company. These other brands are presently being distributed in the Cleveland and Cookeville territories by CCR.

Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated is presently seeking expansion of its distribution services to Louisville, Paducah and Pikeville, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana.

Coca-Cola Consolidated chairman and CEO J. Frank Harrison III noted: "We are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement for another phase of our previously announced transaction with The Coca-Cola Company.

"The signing of this definitive agreement represents one of the final steps in completing our expansion in the state of Tennessee as the Company will hold distribution rights in the significant majority of territory in eastern and central Tennessee upon completion of this transaction. We look forward to serving the Cleveland and Cookeville communities – including our customers, consumers, and new employees there."

Earlier this year, The Coca-Cola Company, SABMiller and Gutsche Family Investments announced their plans to merge non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage bottling operations in southern and eastern part of Africa.

The new bottler, called Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, will cater to 12 countries, which together represent approximately 40% of all Coca-Cola beverage volumes in the continent.