Beginning in 1981, Coke began taking equity positions in some of its largest bottlers, which have historically been predominantly independent franchisees.

And after acquiring Chile's largest bottler in 1993, Pepsico realized that it knew very little about operating locally.

The deal would give Pepsico control of its largest independent bottler.

That slowdown has also affected some of its large bottlers, which have posted gloomy results, too.

Pepsi's largest bottler, the Pepsi Bottling Group, has about 55 percent of the market.

The company spent $1.2 billion on marketing support and infrastructure payments for its largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises, in 1998.

The company would eventually grow into Belize's largest bottler under his son, Barry.

"You could have the smaller, efficient folks wanting to prey on the larger bottlers' big accounts in certain areas."

It is the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola in the United States.

It also continued to make hefty payments to its largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises.