The Coca-Cola Co., the world's largest beverage maker, said Thursday that it has reached agreements with its bottlers to distribute products from Vitaminwater maker Glaceau, which Coca-Cola acquired earlier this year.
The Atlanta-based company said Coca-Cola bottlers representing 99 percent of the company's U.S. bottler-delivered volume have signed on to distribute the Glaceau brands.
Several current Glaceau distributors will also continue distribution of the Glaceau brands in certain territories, Coca-Cola said. In some areas, the Glaceau portfolio of brands will be managed directly by Coca-Cola North America's Glaceau unit.
Distribution of Glaceau products through these bottlers and distributors is expected to begin before the end of this year, Coca-Cola said.
Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Coca-Cola officials said the agreements will help the company boost growth of Glaceau products.
Coca-Cola completed its $4.1 billion purchase of Glaceau in June.
Coca-Cola's purchase of Glaceau, also known as Energy Brands, was Coke's largest acquisition ever.
Carbonated drink makers are trying to expand their product offerings to juice and other non-carbonated beverages to meet shifting consumer tastes.
Also Thursday, Coca-Cola said it will discontinue U.S. sales of its coffee-infused drink Coca-Cola Blak when current stocks run out. Sales of the drink, which Coca-Cola announced in 2005 it would launch, are expected to continue overseas, Coca-Cola spokesman Scott Williamson said.
