Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been awarded the Coca-Cola Gold Quality Award, the company's highest accolade for quality.

Coca-Cola Middle East division president John Guarino presented the award to Coca-Cola Bahrain plant manager Soheil Akhtar in recognition of the company's commitment to quality during last year.

"This has been a great team effort. The commitment to excellence of our bottling partners here in Bahrain sets a fine example to the local business community," said Guarino. Coca-Cola Bahrain general manager Nader Nashed said the award was in recognition of the company's success locally.

He said 40 per cent of the people employed by the company were Bahrainis. Overall, the Coca-Cola system employs more than 150 people in Bahrain and indirectly supports hundreds more in related industries.