International beverage giant Coca-Cola North America Co. has purchased roughly 163 acres in CAN DO’s Humboldt Industrial Park North for use as a future non-carbonated beverage facility.

It marks Coca-Cola’s first venture in the Hazleton market, where it joins other well-known global food companies such as Hershey Foods, General Mills and Cargill.

Coca-Cola had initially purchased a 65-acre parcel in April of this year, but then recently added another 98 acres to their holdings, bringing the company’s total acreage in Humboldt to approximately 163 acres.

Ray Crockett, spokesman for Coca-Cola North America, said the land is slated to be the site of a future non-carbonated beverage plant.

“It was determined that the Hazleton land purchases would be of value to prepare for future expansion requirements,” Crockett said.

He said the company’s manufacturing strategy calls for plant expansions to meet future volume in the north central region.

Brokers representing the Coca-Cola Company were Colliers Lanard & Axilbund, and Robert W. Farrar & Associates, Ltd.

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