[LETTERHEAD OF COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. CONSOLIDATED]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        Symbol:  COKE
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May 13, 2002                 Quoted:   The Nasdaq Stock Market (National Market)

   Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Directors Adopt Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plan

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated today announced that two of
its directors have entered into plans providing for sales of specified amounts
of Common Stock in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule
10b5-1.

J. Frank Harrison, Jr., Chairman Emeritus, and J. Frank Harrison, III, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, have entered into the plans pursuant to which they
may sell a total of 250,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Shares to be
sold under the plans are issuable to Mr. Harrison, Jr. and Mr. Harrison, III
under stock option agreements that were granted in 1989 as long-term incentives.
These options are scheduled to expire on March 7, 2004 for Mr. Harrison, Jr. and
August 8, 2004 for Mr. Harrison, III. Sales will be subject to certain price
restrictions and other contingencies established under the plans. Mr. Harrison,
Jr. and Mr. Harrison, III adopted the plans in order to facilitate the exercise
of those stock options with the goal of minimizing any market impact. Under his
plan, Mr. Harrison, Jr. may sell up to 100,000 shares of Common Stock over a
period expiring March 7, 2004, and Mr. Harrison, III may sell up to 150,000
shares of Common Stock over a period expiring August 8, 2004.

"The sole reason we are entering into these sales plans is in order to realize
the value of the options that were granted to us in 1989 prior to their
expiration. We remain firmly confident in the future outlook for the Company, as
evidenced by our substantial holdings in the Company," stated Mr. Harrison, III.

Rule 10b5-1 permits the implementation of a written plan for selling company
stock at times when insiders are not in possession of material, non-public
information and allows insiders adopting such plans to sell shares on a regular
basis, regardless of any subsequent material, non-public information they
receive.

Forward-looking statements.

Included in this news release are several forward-looking management comments
and other statements that reflect management's current outlook for future
periods. These expectations are based on currently available competitive,
financial and economic data along with the Company's operating plans, and are
subject to future events and uncertainties. These statements may include, among
others, statements relating to our expectations concerning our confidence in the
future outlook for the Company. Among the events or uncertainties which could
adversely affect future periods are lower than expected net pricing resulting
from increased marketplace competition, changes in how significant customers
market our products, an inability to meet requirements under bottling contracts,
an inability to meet performance requirements for expected levels of marketing
support payments from The Coca-Cola Company, reduced marketing and advertising
spending by The Coca-Cola Company and other beverage companies, material changes
from expectations in the cost of raw materials, the inability of our aluminum
can or PET bottle suppliers to meet our demand, higher than expected fuel prices
and unfavorable interest rate fluctuations. The forward-looking statements in
this news release should be read in conjunction with the detailed cautionary
statements found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 30, 2001.

                               --Enjoy Coca-Cola--