ABARTA starts work on $100 million S. Lebanon Coca-Cola distribution center

ABARTA broke ground Wednesday morning, Sept. 17, on a 240,000-square-foot Coca-Cola sales and distribution facility on a 52-acre parcel in Lebanon Valley Business Park.

Representatives of ABARTA said the development at 12 Ritter Way is expected to cost between $100 million and $110 million, including around a $25 million case-picking and pallet-building system by Vertique.

ABARTA hopes the development will be completed by July 29, 2027, (also the 10th anniversary of ABARTA Coca-Cola). The groundbreaking ceremony included remarks by multiple ABARTA representatives and involved members of the community, followed by a ceremonial dirt toss.

Chair and CEO Charlie Bitzer explained that founder of ABARTA and his grandfather Rolland Adams grew up in Perry County before purchasing the Atlantic City Press in 1953, soon followed by partial interest in the Bethlehem and Pittsburgh Coca-Cola bottling plants. The family-owned business bought territory from Coca-Cola in 2017, and has since distributed Coca-Cola products through much of Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, Ohio, and New Jersey.

“Today, we are the 10th largest Coca-Cola bottler in the country, and we’re proud of that,” said Bitzer. “So this incredible journey has brought us here, and I think about Rolland, and I can’t imagine, he would think that we have gotten this far; delivering Coca-Cola in his hometown, his home county.”

Susan Eberly of the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation explained that the organization began communication with ABARTA on the site in June 2023 with code name “Project Cheer.” By July of the next year, ABARTA submitted a purchase agreement for the property, with Eberly saying she was “pleasantly surprised” they wanted to purchase the entire 55-acre site.

Also present at the groundbreaking was state Rep. John Schlegel, a representative from state Senator Chris Gebhard’s office, County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz, and representatives of South Lebanon Township.

Read More: ‘State-of-the-art’ Coca-Cola distribution center planned in S. Lebanon Township

This is not the first time there’s been a Coca-Cola facility in Lebanon County. In 1969, the James E. Crass Coca-Cola Bottling Plants Inc. built a 32,000-square-foot warehouse and sales center at 150 N. Grant St., Cleona, for $300,000. The Mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Co. purchased the plant in 1980 and closed it a year later as part of a regional consolidation plan, when operations were moved to a plant in Shiremanstown. Today the Grant Street building is home to Long’s Machine & Tool Inc.

Update Friday, Sept. 19 – South Lebanon Township supervisor Robert Griffiths sent over a note about the ground breaking.

On September 17, a groundbreaking was held in South Lebanon Township for the construction of a Coca-Cola sales and distribution center.

It’s important to note that as a South Lebanon Township Supervisor, I am one of those that voted to approve the final plans for this facility. I did so in the hope that this facility would support our local economy.  Furthermore, I felt it was also important to provide financial security that if this project or any public improvement project were to default our taxpayers would not be burdened with additional cost.

I feel strongly that South Lebanon Township is an unrecognized gem. Our township is a healthy and safe community in which to raise a family. Our public school system is excellent and provides our children an environment in which they can thrive. Our township police department truly does protect and serve. Most importantly, South Lebanon Township is a near perfect blend of residential, agricultural, and industrial land use and it is vital that we maintain that extraordinary blend for future generations.

Be assured that as a member of the township board of supervisors, I am proud to live and work in our beautiful community and honored to serve our residents and welcome ABARTA Coca-Cola to join our township family.

Respectfully,
Robert Griffiths
Supervisor, South Lebanon Township