Coca-Cola is celebrating 50 years since the first can came off its production line at its Northmead site in NSW, Australia.

The first can produced was called Tab, the predecessor of Diet Coke and Coca-Cola No Sugar – both popular favourites today.

Plenty has changed since 1972. Technology has allowed Coca-Cola to make more beverages, more quickly, and sustainability is embedded across all aspects of their operations, from their approach to water stewardship through to using recycled content in packaging.

Northmead now has two canning lines, with one able to produce 1200 cans per minute.

This line runs standard and slimline cans in 200ml, 2550ml, 300ml, 375ml and 500ml. Multipack configurations on this line include 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18 and 24 slabs.

Orlando Rodriguez, Vice President of Supply Chain – Australia at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners: said: “Our commitment to great people, great service and great beverages has been unwavering. At Northmead, in the heart of Sydney’s west, we now make 250 different products from 20 different brands and boast a headcount that exceeds 380 dedicated employees with a remarkable average tenure of 17 years.”

Half a century of operations is no mean feat. To celebrate the milestone, their team came together for a special gathering.

Cutting the cake were Van Ke Nguyen (the longest serving employee at Northmead, having been with Coca-Cola for 41 years) and Priscila Pacheco Maciel (the newest team member on-site), alongside Orlando Rodriguez and guest Jose Antonio Echeverría (Chief Customer Service and Supply Chain Officer at CCEP).