New York, Jul. 12 - Coca-Cola Co has initiated an absolute hiring freeze in the United States for the rest of the year due to the weak economy, a company spokesman said Friday.
The freeze was first reported by a beverage industry newsletter, which said it obtained a copy of an internal memo sent by Coca-Cola North America President Alexander "Sandy" Douglas.
According to the newsletter, Beverage Digest, Douglas cited "the challenging economic environment we are facing in North America."
Scott Williamson, a spokesman for the world's largest soft- drink maker, declined to provide Reuters with a copy of the memo and only offered a brief statement.
"This action allows us to focus all of our attention on our plans to continue to build our business with our retail partners, packaging initiatives and a host of other programs that we'll have for 2008," Williamson said.
The world's largest soft drink maker had a hiring freeze earlier this year that made exceptions for "mission-critical positions," but the latest freeze does not, Beverage Digest said.
The report said only job offers made before July 1 would be fulfilled and all other hiring would have to cease until 2009. The freeze does not include vitamin water Glaceau, Fuze tea or Odwalla juices, or jobs in Canada, the report added.
Coca-Cola counts Mexico as part of its Latin America unit.