Jean Claude Tissot is unlike most other business executives. Wednesday is this beverage industry veteran’s favorite day of the week. As the President of Arca-Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the local Coca-Cola bottler of Texas, and parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arkansas, JCT loves Wednesdays because Wednesdays at CCSWB is Market Investment Day.
At CCSWB, Market Investment Days are the time when Jean Claude along with executives and mid-level leaders connect with CCSWB frontline associates at facilities and in the aisles wherever refreshing Coca-Cola bottles are sold. MIDs mean getting out of the office and visiting production facilities, warehouses, and other aspects of the business, a time Jean Claude relishes.
“We are a people-driven digital bottler,” says Tissot. “And you cannot be people focused if you are not present and not understanding the reality of what is happening with our frontline heroes.”
Market Investment Days: One Local Company Chooses Trust and Collaboration to Bottle Success
By StoryStudio on July 23, 2024
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Jean Claude Tissot understands the power of valuing one’s employees. Two decades ago, JCT began his journey in the beverage industry as a merchandiser. He learned firsthand what it means to be a frontline associate. This experience informed his leadership style. By prioritizing hands-on knowledge of CCSWB’s daily operations through collaborative initiatives like MIDs, Jean Claude is a living example of the company’s appreciation of its team members which is foundational to CCSWB’s unrivaled work culture and exceptional workforce.
Recognition of frontline associates who serve our communities became even more important during the challenges of the last few years. Yet, despite natural disasters and a global pandemic, CCSWB’s community-centric mindset enabled the company’s exemplary team members to accomplish great things. It taught leaders like Jean Claude the power of listening and collaboration.
“I saw how important it was to have good managers,” Tissot says about lessons learned. “That’s why our formula is to build a strong culture, and everything is about our frontline heroes. We encourage our frontline supervisors to make sure that culture is the reality at our distribution facilities, warehouses and everywhere.”
“I’m extremely proud that a lot of our changes and improvements have come from the MIDs,” Tissot says. “We are listening and incorporating feedback from our frontline heroes in all aspects — not just in business but in our culture. We want our employees, customers and communities to feel valued and understood, and MIDs are crucial to that.”
It's all part of the vision. After entering the United States back in 2017, the goal became clear for Arca Continental, the second-largest bottler in Latin America.
“For a company to operate successfully in the United States,” says Jean Claude, “it needs a culture of integration and diversity, as well as a culture of change and innovation. A culture that is about prosperity and its focus on resources."
CCSWB was founded on that culture and it continues to thrive today through its employees and its ongoing presence in the community.
Learn more about Market Investment Days and other ways CCSWB celebrates its associates at cocacolaswb.com.
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Market Investment Days have proven to be a win-win for the company. As a leader, Jean Claude believes MIDs offer valuable insights and connections with frontline associates and support the company’s mission and vision. Meanwhile, employees feel empowered and appreciated. When your work is acknowledged and understood at the highest levels of leadership, you know you work at a company that puts people above all else. In turn, MID's visibility reinforces the importance of employees’ contributions and motivates them to continue delivering their best work.
Throughout CCSWB, Market Investment Days are held in the highest regard. CCSWB employees across sectors love the weekly MIDs. Many employees regularly share photos and testimonials of MID experiences on CCSWB’s social media pages. A sure-fire engagement practice for associates to share what they learned. As a vital source of inspiration and strategic direction for a company comprised of local people serving their communities, these unique Wednesdays are an extension of CCSWB’s larger mission.
“Everything they share with us during MIDs is an improvement for our culture, for our business and for our digitalization,” Tissot says. “It’s extremely refreshing, honestly. It’s an opportunity to see what’s happening with all the business strategies, new products, digital strategies, and production, and to do good things. It reinforces our belief that when we focus on culture and engagement, the result is extremely great.” It’s no wonder that Wednesday is his favorite weekday.
“One of the main questions we ask is, ‘What do you need from us, from the company?’, and ‘What can we do differently as a company?’ We want to talk about the positives but also talk with full transparency about things that are not working well.”
Jean Claude Tissot
President of Arca-Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
Throughout his decades-long career, Jean Claude Tissot has been dedicated to building a company culture of appreciation for its employees as well as a focus on team and customer support, sustainability, technological advances, and community commitment. CCSWB’s Market Investment Days are crucial in driving the company’s strategic initiatives and engendering a strong company culture.
On MIDs, company leaders spend the day listening to employee concerns, hearing their ideas on what can be improved and, most importantly, what they need to accomplish. It’s an opportunity for everyone to learn from one another’s perspectives and ideals, which builds a strong company culture and an inclusive environment where everyone is heard.
“One of the main questions we ask is, ‘What do you need from us, from the company?’,” Tissot explains. “And ‘What can we do differently as a company?’ We want to talk about the positives but also talk with full transparency about things that are not working well.”
JCT’s commitment to direct engagement with frontline associates during Market Investment Days reflects a leadership style centered on transparency, open communication, creating trust, and fostering collaboration across the organization. It’s no surprise, then, that Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages employs more than 8,700 dedicated team members serving one of the largest regions in the country. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Communities depend on CCSWB for the Coca-Cola products they crave. CCSWB depends on members of the community to enjoy these products to support their workforce and their community involvement.
“I saw how important it was to have good managers, that’s why our formula is to build a strong culture, and everything is about our frontline heroes. We encourage our frontline supervisors to make sure that culture is the reality at our distribution facilities, warehouses and everywhere.”
Jean Claude Tissot
President of Arca-Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
On MIDs, company leaders spend the day listening to employee concerns, hearing their ideas on what can be improved and, most importantly, what they need to accomplish. It’s an opportunity for everyone to learn from one another’s perspectives and ideals, which builds a strong company culture and an inclusive environment where everyone is heard.
“One of the main questions we ask is, ‘What do you need from us, from the company?’,” Tissot explains. “And ‘What can we do differently as a company?’ We want to talk about the positives but also talk with full transparency about things that are not working well.”
Recognition of frontline associates who serve our communities became even more important during the challenges of the last few years. Yet, despite natural disasters and a global pandemic, CCSWB’s community-centric mindset enabled the company’s exemplary team members to
accomplish great things. It taught leaders like Jean Claude the power of listening and collaboration.
Jean Claude Tissot
President of Arca-Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
“I saw how important it was to have good managers,” Tissot says about lessons learned. “That’s why our formula is to build a strong culture, and everything is about our frontline heroes. We encourage our frontline supervisors to make sure that culture is the reality at our distribution facilities, warehouses and everywhere.”