LONDONDERRY — Coca-Cola Bottling Co. is buying up land behind its plant off Interstate 93, fueling speculation about expansion.
But company officials refused to comment when asked about expansion plans this week, even though U.S. Sen. John Sununu visited the Londonderry plant on Monday to talk with employees and discuss "a $32 million expansion project," according to a press release announcing his work schedule.
Coca-Cola is buying small parcels totaling "a couple of acres" from several homeowners on the Clark Road side of its plant near Exit 5, according to Town Assessor Karen Marchant. On Jan. 9, real estate records show the company paid almost $1.5 million for three parcels of land on Clark Road. And just last fall, the Town Council rezoned 16 acres of land on Clark Road next to the Coca-Cola plant from residential to industrial in anticipation of a possible expansion.
Rumors about expansion also have reached the ears of town officials, but so far there has been no paperwork sent to Town Hall, according to Andre Garron, director of Planning and Economic Development.
Garron said it would be great news if Coca-Cola expands its Londonderry plant. He said it would mean more industry and jobs and would be a sign the company is staying in Londonderry. He did not anticipate any opposition to the project.
John Palermo, a spokesman for Coca-Cola, had nothing to say yesterday about the possibility of an expansion or reports of deals in the works to buy up land around the plant.
"I have no comment," he said flatly. "I have no comment. I have no comment."
Sununu's office also had little information about the project, aside from what was included in the release announcing the senator's work schedule.
Arthur Rugg, chairman of the Planning Board, said he also has heard rumors about Coca-Cola expanding. He said it makes sense that Coca-Cola would want to grow, but he was not sure there was any time frame.
"Sometime in the next 20 years I'm sure it will happen," he said.
The Londonderry facility is Coca-Cola's major production plant in northern New England. The company purchased the building in 1999. The plant employs more than 150 people, company officials said last year.
Coca-Cola built a 32,000-square-foot addition at the Londonderry plant for warehousing and product testing last year, according to town building records.
