8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):

November 29, 2004

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-9286	56-0950585
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

4100 Coca-Cola Plaza, Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(704) 557-4400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 29, 2004, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (the “Company”) issued its Report to Stockholders for the quarter ended September 26, 2004. A copy of the Report to Stockholders is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Report to Stockholders for the period ended September 26, 2004.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 29, 2004	BY:	COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED (REGISTRANT) /s/ David V. Singer
		David V. Singer
		Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant
		and
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC

EXHIBITS

CURRENT REPORT

ON

FORM 8-K

Date of Event Reported:	Commission File No:
November 29, 2004	0-9286

COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
99.1	Report to Stockholders for the period ended September 26, 2004.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Report to Stockholders: For the Period Ended September 26, 2004

Dear Stockholders:

Your Company reported net income for the third quarter of 2004 of $6.1 million or $.67 per share compared to net income of $13.8 million or $1.53 per share for the third quarter of 2003. Net income in the third quarter of 2003 reflected a net favorable adjustment to income tax expense of $4.6 million related to two nonrecurring items.

Overall financial results in the third quarter of 2004 were weak as net sales decreased by 1.3% due to a 3.8% decline in bottle/can volume offset somewhat by an increase of approximately 2.5% in average revenue per case. A combination of unseasonably cool weather in August, several tropical storms in September and less aggressive promotions by certain retailers led to soft sales in the third quarter. The Company’s immediate consumption business, which has higher margins than our future consumption business, declined by almost 5% in the recent quarter. Despite a modest increase in operating expenses of approximately 1% in the third quarter of 2004, operating profit declined in the quarter as a result of lower sales and the high fixed cost nature of our operations.

The Company continues to focus on reducing its debt through managing capital spending and working capital. Total debt and capital lease obligations at the end of the third quarter of 2004 was more than $80 million lower than at the end of the third quarter of 2003.

Product innovation of both brands and packages has been and will continue to be critical to overall volume growth. The Company introduced Coca-Cola C2, a mid-calorie product from The Coca-Cola Company, during June 2004 and diet Coke with Lime during the first quarter of 2004. For the first nine months of 2004, these two new brands represented approximately 2% of the Company’s bottle/can volume. During the first nine months of 2004, the Company’s diet carbonated soft drink portfolio grew by approximately 6% and the Company’s noncarbonated beverage portfolio also grew, with PowerAde volume increasing by approximately 23% and Dasani up by approximately 4%. The Company’s future success will be significantly impacted by product innovation and revenue management as it continues to strike an appropriate balance between net price realization and volume growth.

J. Frank Harrison, III Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William B. Elmore President and Chief Operating Officer

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In Thousands

	Unaudited Sept. 26, 2004		Dec. 28, 2003		Unaudited Sept. 28, 2003
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash	$	7,895	$	18,044	$	18,280
Trade accounts receivable, net		87,876		82,222		83,977
Accounts receivable, other		15,401		28,775		29,086
Inventories		51,725		36,891		41,156
Cash surrender value of life insurance, net				27,765
Other current assets		7,948		6,981		7,121
Total current assets		170,845		200,678		179,620
Property, plant and equipment, net		421,883		446,708		457,097
Leased property under capital leases, net		77,760		43,109		43,726
Other assets		26,703		27,653		59,421
Franchise rights, net		520,672		520,672		520,672
Goodwill, net		102,049		102,049		102,049
Other identifiable intangible assets, net		6,695		9,051		9,844
Total	$	1,326,607	$	1,349,920	$	1,372,429
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	39	$	78	$	35,039
Current portion of obligations under capital leases		1,797		1,337		1,430
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		157,707		132,904		143,912
Total current liabilities		159,543		134,319		180,381
Deferred income taxes		161,029		156,094		155,650
Other liabilities		118,721		125,299		116,349
Obligations under capital leases		79,643		44,226		44,491
Long-term debt		703,039		802,639		785,078
Total liabilities		1,221,975		1,262,577		1,281,949
Minority interest		38,315		34,871		34,264
Stockholders’ equity		66,317		52,472		56,216
Total	$	1,326,607	$	1,349,920	$	1,372,429

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

In Thousands (Except Per Share Data)

	Third Quarter				First Nine Months
	2004		2003		2004		2003
Net sales	$	321,336	$	325,637	$	937,774	$	919,002
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation expense shown below		169,938		168,949		485,174		474,663
Gross margin		151,398		156,688		452,600		444,339
Selling, delivery and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation expense shown below		109,646		108,329		328,140		316,785
Depreciation expense		17,795		18,956		53,108		57,253
Amortization of intangibles		766		846		2,356		2,311
Income from operations		23,191		28,557		68,996		67,990
Interest expense		10,838		10,414		31,822		31,701
Minority interest		1,346		1,432		3,444		2,690
Income before income taxes		11,007		16,711		33,730		33,599
Income taxes		4,899		2,865		14,204		6,446
Net income	$	6,108	$	13,846	$	19,526	$	27,153
Basic net income per share	$	.67	$	1.53	$	2.15	$	3.00
Diluted net income per share	$	.67	$	1.53	$	2.15	$	3.00
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		9,063		9,043		9,063		9,043
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — assuming dilution		9,063		9,043		9,063		9,043
Cash dividends per share
Common Stock	$	.25	$	.25	$	.75	$	.75
Class B Common Stock	$	.25	$	.25	$	.75	$	.75

STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION

Corporate Address

The corporate office is located at 4100 Coca-Cola Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28211. The mailing address is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, P.O. Box 31487, Charlotte, NC 28231.

Company Website

www.cokeconsolidated.com

Common Stock Listing

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System under the ticker symbol - COKE.

Stockholder Inquiries

The Company’s transfer agent is responsible for stockholder records, issuance of stock certificates and distribution of dividend payments and IRS Form 1099s. The transfer agent also administers plans for dividend reinvestment and direct deposit. Stockholder requests and inquiries concerning these matters are most efficiently answered by corresponding directly with Wachovia Bank, N.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Client Services NC-1153, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd. 3C3, Charlotte, NC 28288-1153. Communication may also be made by calling Toll Free (800) 829-8432, Local (704) 590-7375 or Fax (704) 590-7598.

Stockholder Reports

Additional copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are available without charge upon written request to David V. Singer, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, P.O. Box 31487, Charlotte, NC 28231. These filings are also available on the Company’s website as well as on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report to Stockholders, as well as information included in, or incorporated by reference from, future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company, contains, or may contain, forward-looking management comments and other statements that reflect management’s current outlook for future periods. These statements include, among others, statements relating to the reduction of debt through management of capital spending and working capital; product innovation of both brands and packages critical to overall volume growth; and an ongoing focus and monitoring of the appropriate balance between net pricing and volume. These statements and expectations are based on the currently available competitive, financial and economic data along with the Company’s operating plans, and are subject to future events and uncertainties. Among the events or uncertainties which could adversely affect future periods are: lower than expected selling prices resulting from increased marketplace competition; an inability to meet performance requirements for expected levels of certain marketing funding support payments from The Coca-Cola Company or other beverage companies; changes in how significant customers market or promote our products; reduced advertising and marketing spending by The Coca-Cola Company or other beverage companies; an inability to meet requirements under bottling contracts; the inability of our aluminum can or PET bottle suppliers to meet our sales demand; significant changes from expectations in the cost of raw materials; higher than expected insurance premiums and fuel costs; lower than anticipated returns on pension plan assets; higher than anticipated health care costs; unfavorable interest rate fluctuations; higher than anticipated cash payments for income taxes; unfavorable weather conditions; significant changes in consumer preferences related to carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks; inability to increase selling prices to offset higher raw material costs; reduced product innovation; significant changes in credit ratings impacting the Company’s ability to borrow; terrorist attacks, war or other civil disturbances; and changes in financial markets.