<ARTICLE>                                  5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements as of and for the nine months ended October 1, 2000 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0000317540
<NAME>                                     COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                                 US

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-03-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-01-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                            1
<CASH>                                          24,971
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   62,300
<ALLOWANCES>                                       813
<INVENTORY>                                     41,956
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               158,142
<PP&E>                                         700,102
<DEPRECIATION>                                 262,891
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,086,563
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          130,425
<BONDS>                                        709,529
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        12,423
<OTHER-SE>                                      24,224
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,086,563
<SALES>                                        757,682
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               757,682
<CGS>                                          402,804
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  402,804
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               299,385
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              41,124
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,809
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,051
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,758
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,758
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.22