Hundreds of Atlanta Coca-Cola Employees to be Laid Off

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has informed employees that a wave of layoffs which will eliminate thousands of jobs, including hundreds of jobs in Atlanta, will begin in the next few months, the Atlana Business Chronicle says.

According to the Chronicle, the message was sent out to employees on Thursday that anywhere between 1,600 and 1,800 job cuts are in the offing as part of a four-year plan to slash costs. The nearly $1 billion program is meant to free up cash to be used to strengthen the brand and to increase its marketing footprint, the Chronicle reports.

Coke employees in Atlanta will be seriously impacted by the layoffs; According to the Associated Press, the Atlanta-based company will lay off 500 employees at its headquarters. It is not known when the layoffs in Atlanta will begin or if they have already commenced.

International employees will be notified of job cuts on Jan. 15, according to the Chronicle.