Black-owned business named U.S. Best Managed Company for 2022

Coca-Cola Florida has been selected as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company. Sponsored by The Wall Street Journal and Deloitte Private, the Best Managed Companies program seeks to recognize the outstanding achievements of private U.S. companies and their management.

The 2022 designees have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people and fostering a dynamic, resilient culture, as well as strong financials, a release said.

“This recognition is a significant achievement for us, and we see it as a validation of the diligence, consistent effort, and resilience of the 4,600 plus associates of Coke Florida,” said Troy Taylor, founder, chairman, and CEO of Coke Florida.

He continued: “We hold ourselves to being best in class in all the evaluated categories, and we are honoured to join the 1,200 other companies across the world who hold this prestigious designation. We are especially proud to receive this recognition after more than two years of unprecedented business challenges.”

According to the release, applicants for the awards are “evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and governance/financial performance.”

The selected businesses this year continued to propel their businesses forward by prioritizing purpose, investing in their workforces, and demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the release added.

“While financial results are one indicator of strong business performance when combined with strategy and execution, they demonstrate the tenets of a truly solid organization,” Coca-Cola Florida Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration, David Cross, said.

“Building a strong and inclusive organizational culture across the Coke Florida footprint has been an intentional part of our overall strategy. Our culture is the foundation of everything we do, and it is a key driver of our business results.”

Coca-Cola Florida, founded in 2015, is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the U.S. and the largest minority-owned business in Florida. A family-owned Coca-Cola bottler, the company is also the third-largest privately held and the sixth-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the U.S.

Coke Florida is headquartered in Tampa and covers 47 counties in the state as well as Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando.