JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 2, 2026--
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) today unveiled limited-edition America250 Coca-Cola cans at its Jacksonville manufacturing facility—one of the select locations in the country producing commemorative packaging representing all 50 states ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
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“Coca-Cola has been a unique and deeply rooted part of Americana for nearly 140 years,” said Troy Taylor, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Coke Florida. “As we celebrate this milestone, we’re proud to join our fellow bottling partners and The Coca-Cola Company in bringing these commemorative cans to life. This effort reflects our shared commitment to celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary while continuing to create meaningful connections with the communities we serve across Florida and beyond.”
Federal, state and local officials joined community leaders and Coke Florida associates for the unveiling event, which offered a first look at the commemorative cans as they moved through production lines—connecting Florida manufacturing directly to a once-in-a-generation national celebration.
Beginning April 6, the America250-themed Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar mini cans will be available at retailers across Florida. Consumers will find patriotic branding on various Coca-Cola packages and other brands distributed by Coke Florida, such as smartwater and Gold Peak. Specially wrapped Coke Florida delivery trucks will also travel throughout the state, extending the visibility of the campaign into local communities.
Following the unveiling, guests toured the Jacksonville facility, gaining behind-the-scenes access to the scale and precision of Coke Florida’s operations, from production and packaging to warehousing and distribution, underscoring the company’s role in delivering a beverage for every occasion across the state.
As a Signature Partner of America250, The Coca-Cola Company is helping bring people together to mark this historic milestone—continuing a legacy that dates back to 1886 of being part of moments that unite communities across generations. In addition to the production of commemorative packaging, Coke Florida will further support America250 through planned community engagement initiatives and local activations to be rolled out throughout 2026.
For more information about the unveiling event or inquiries related to Coke Florida’s America250 celebration activities, visit cokeflorida.com/america250.
About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company and a growth-focused consumer packaged goods company. We are one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States with an exclusive territory that covers forty-seven counties in Florida. Coke Florida makes, sells, and distributes a portfolio of beverages for every occasion including sparkling soft drinks, waters, teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, and value-added dairy drinks. We drive positive economic impact in the communities we serve through employing over 5,000 associates and operating four GreenCircle Certified production facilities and eighteen distribution centers. Our investments in sustainability, education, and economic empowerment are the foundation of our commitment to helping build stronger communities. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is also one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. The company has been recognized as a US Best Managed Company Gold Standard Winner by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Limited-edition America250 Coca-Cola mini cans produced by Coca-Cola Beverages Florida will be available starting April 6th across Florida.
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida celebrates the launch of America250 Commemorative Coca-Cola cans in Florida.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan acknowledges that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican gives him “an instant megaphone" in the crowded primary race. But Sullivan said his campaign isn't a sham or something Democrats put him up to doing.
He said friends for years have jokingly referred to him as senator and asked if he has ever thought about running. He said he’s been considering it for more than a decade.
“This is my choice,” Sullivan, who lives in the small fishing community of Petersburg, said in a telephone interview Monday.
Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan accused the challenger Sullivan of “trying to trick” voters to help his main rival in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The senator suggested the other Sullivan's entrance in the August primary was part of a coordinated effort by Democrats and Peltola's campaign to confuse voters, an accusation they deny. He threatened litigation to get to the bottom of it.
The issue is of national concern to Republicans because they are seeking to hold onto their majority in the U.S. Senate in what is expected to be a difficult midterm election year for the party in power. Sullivan, the challenger, dismissed claims that his candidacy is a merely a ruse to undermine the senator's reelection chances.
He said he has had no contact with Peltola's campaign — “zero, none, zilch” — and said “no” when asked if anyone from the state Democratic Party or any national Democratic operatives had contacted him to run.
A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, has said the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.” The executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson, Monica Robinson, replied “no” when asked if the group had been involved in urging the challenger Sullivan to run.
Sullivan called sharing a name with the Alaska's incumbent U.S. senator “a matter of fate” and said he had done nothing wrong.
“I have every right to run for whatever office I'm qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office,” the challenger said, adding: “I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo. You stand up and say, I’m going to fight for things I believe that are going to make my community better.”
Ballots in prior years in Alaska have not identified the incumbent, but the Alaska Division of Elections’ current candidate list online does. It also distinguishes the candidates using a middle initial — Dan S. Sullivan for the senator and Dan J. Sullivan for the challenger.
Alaska has open primaries in which the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the ranked choice general election in November. Sen. Sullivan's campaign worries having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot could confuse voters.
Sen. Sullivan's campaign, in a statement Monday, said, “Alaskans deserve a fair and honest election — not political games meant to manipulate the ballot and benefit Democrats.”
The challenger said he was registered with the limited government-leaning Alaskan Independence Party for decades, until the party's dissolution late last year. Election officials had said voters registered with the party could change their affiliation but if they did not, they'd be shown as “undeclared.” Sullivan said he then was listed as undeclared until filing to run for office, when he registered as Republican.
He said he was motivated in part by his late father, whom he described as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.” He said if he had to label himself, it would be “a pragmatic Republican centrist” — similar to Alaska's senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, but “with touches of a Rand Paul Republican in there.”
He said he grew up in the Chicago area but was drawn to Alaska and put down roots nearly 50 years ago in Petersburg. The fishing community of about 3,400 in southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest is known as “Little Norway” for its many residents with Scandinavian roots. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service before changing careers and becoming a teacher. He has since retired.
Like most communities in Alaska, Petersburg isn't connected to the state's main road system and is accessible only by air or water. Juneau, the nearest city, is about 45 minutes away by plane.
Petersburg sits on Mitkof Island, which is distinguished by mountains, thick stands of forest and boggy areas called muskeg. Sea lions hauled up on buoys and humpback whales and orcas are common sights off its shores.
Sullivan, who will turn 69 this weekend, passed on an interview request last Friday, he said, because the king salmon were running and he wanted to fish.
As far as his run for office, the challenger said he plans to do some fundraising and hopes to campaign in the state's larger cities, including Anchorage and Juneau, but he so far has no firm plans to do so and is working on the details.
He finds the current dustup over his Senate run — and the incumbent's reaction — a bit surprising.
“I guess my thought would be, ‘Dude, why don’t you just run your campaign?’ If you’ve got a strong record, run on your record. People will love you for it and you’ll be swept back into office,” he said Monday. “Why would he be concerned that a guy out of Petersburg is this huge threat?”
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, heads to a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
