Coca-Cola HBC Italia: Verona becomes a production hub for the Olympics

The Coca-Cola HBC Veneto plant—in Nogara, Verona province—will be the production hub for beverage supplies destined for the main venues of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics: Olympic villages, athletes' areas, and public spaces. The Veneto production site thus plays a key role in supporting the Games. This contribution, the company explains, builds on the long tradition of the Coca-Cola Company, which has supported the Olympic Movement since 1928, becoming the longest-standing partner in Olympic history.

In Nogara, an open house for employees and families marked the company's 50th anniversary, marked by continued growth. Figures show that €220 million has been invested over the last 15 years, with another €50 million planned for the next four years: the Veneto factory has reached 266,000 square meters of floor space.

The first Coca-Cola can was produced here in Italy in 1975, and today it is the main plant for Italy and for the whole of Europe: it employs 429 people directly, with a related industry of nearly 3,000, and involves around a hundred local companies, from small to medium-sized and large.

The day was attended by Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Chamber of Deputies, Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Region, Flavio Massimo Pasini, Mayor of Nogara, Damiano Tommasi, Mayor of Verona, and Giuseppe Riello, President of Confindustria Verona, as well as Italian and Group management including Naya Kalogeraki, Chief Operating Officer of Coca-Cola HBC, Miles Karemacher, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Italy, and Luca Santandrea, General Manager of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 for Coca-Cola Italy.

Nogara produces 1.2 billion bottles, cans, and kegs annually for the Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Kinley, Lurisia, Fuzetea, and Powerade brands. There are 11 production lines, including three for PET, two for cans, and one for glass. Work is underway on a new aseptic line for still products such as isotonic drinks and tea. These 50 years "pay homage to a history of expertise, innovation, and a connection to the local community," said Miles Karemacher, general manager of Coca-Cola HBC Italy: "The country represents a fundamental pillar of the Group's growth strategies and will continue to be at the center of our future investments, because we see talent, energy, and opportunity here."