For a family-run company that has been in the beverage business for more than a century, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Atlantic, Iowa, is by no means stuck in the past. Late last year, the company grew from two locations to nine, expanding its territory to cover most of Iowa and portions of adjoining states. As part of the acquisition, Atlantic also has accelerated its shift to end-load equipment, including the recent purchase of 16 new Kenworth T370 tractors and 13 new trailers.

Yet, its legacy still helps to inspire the company’s evolving operations. At a time when many distributors have opted for the cost savings of dynamic routing, Atlantic prefers the personalized customer service benefits of having each of its drivers dedicated to a fixed route. Another important tradition at Atlantic is maintaining a family culture in the workplace.