NATCHEZ — Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED Inc., headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., announced this week it closed the transaction with The Coca-Cola Company expanding Coca-Cola UNITED’s West Region territory into Natchez.

“It’s with great enthusiasm that we welcome the Louisiana and Mississippi Coca-Cola territories into the West Region of our Coca-Cola UNITED family,” said Paul Favaron, vice president of the west region for Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED Inc. “To support their work and our locally focused business model, we will be creating 78 new local jobs collectively, in Alexandria, Monroe, Shreveport and Natchez.”

Barney Albritton, sales center manager for McComb Coca-Cola and Natchez Coca-Cola, said as he has gotten to know the Natchez Coca-Cola associates, he’s extremely grateful and privileged to welcome the skilled and dedicated associates into the Coca-Cola UNITED family.”

“I am confident our Natchez Coca-Cola team is committed to our UNITED local business operating model,” Albritton said. “To support our local model, we will be adding several new positions and upgrading the facility and fleet.”

Natchez Coca-Cola Bottling Company began operations as a part of Coca-Cola UNITED Oct. 31. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.