CHARLOTTE - Coke Consolidated said it is cutting 350 jobs, including 35 in its headquarters city, as soaring fuel and sweetener costs erode profits.

The job cuts represent about 5 percent of the 6,500 people working for the nation's second-largest Coke bottler, which operates predominantly in nine Southeastern states. Attrition and other previous departures have already trimmed about 200 employees, with the balance of 150 representing new layoffs.

The company expects to take a charge of $4 million to $5 million as a result of the job cuts.

"The past year has seen dramatic increases in the costs of goods and services required to make, sell and deliver our products," Frank Harrison, Coke Consolidated's chief executive, said in a news release.

Bottlers are heavy users of corn syrup to sweeten soda, and corn prices have jumped with demand for ethanol. Bottlers also have struggled with weakening soft drink sales and higher fuel costs for their delivery fleets. Now consumers are cutting back more as they face rising prices for gas, food and other goods.

Coke Consolidated operates from a South Park headquarters in Charlotte, and its bottling plant in northwest Charlotte is one of the world's largest.

Shares closed at $33.89, down 27 cents.

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.