Gary Tucker

President & CEO
Huntsville Coca-Cola

Gary Tucker
President & CEO, Huntsville Coca-Cola

Q: Tell us about yourself. Are you from Huntsville, or did you move here from somewhere else?

I grew up in Thomasville, GA and lived there until I left for college. My first job out of school was in Birmingham for Central Bank of the South (BBVA today). It was in Birmingham that I met my wife who ended up bringing me to Huntsville in 1995. Those were two of the best decisions I have ever made.

Q: Tell us about your role with Huntsville Coca-Cola. This is a long-time beloved brand! What does your team do?

I joined Huntsville Coca-Cola in November of 2022 after spending most of my career as a chief financial officer in the convenience store industry. The move was part of a transition for the company whose long-time president and chief executive officer planned to retire in the next couple of years. I transitioned into the role of president and CEO in October of 2024.

We distribute beverages in Madison and Limestone County and have been a Coca-Cola distributor in Huntsville since 1902 (originally as Pratt Bottling Company). We also operate a full-line vending and micro market division (Redi-To-Serve) which provides food and snack items in addition to beverages. Micro markets are the fastest growing area of our business.

I am blessed to work with a talented team that has decades of experience in an industry with which I was somewhat unfamiliar. I am also fortunate to market the most recognizable brand in the world, Coca-Cola. Many people are surprised when they discover how many packages and flavors we carry, over 500 items including Powerade, Monster Energy, and Fairlife among others. Additionally, we are a distributor of Dr Pepper, a very strong brand in the south.

Q: What are some of your company’s plans for 2025?

We have so many plans for the coming year. We continue to enhance our technological capabilities which in the coming year will include identifying a new ERP and accounting system as we migrate to the cloud. We will add online ordering capability to our website, design and implement a top-of-class management development program and continue to grow our share of the market both through beverages and our micro markets. We will also continue to provide our employees with opportunities to partner with charitable organizations in the community, something that is an important part of our mission.

Q: What does your company get from its membership in the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber, and your support as an investor?

The Chamber offers us the opportunity to connect with other businesses and business leaders who share a common goal of promoting business development within our region. We are so fortunate to have so many great leaders within the business community and elected officials who desire to lift the metro area as a whole. We accomplish so much more when we work together, and Huntsville Coca-Cola is proud to be a small part of that effort.

This article appears in the February 2025 issue of Initiatives magazine, a publication of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.