Britvic Ireland is to make 145 people redundant over the next year as part of a restructuring plan.
The job losses will see employment at the group fall from 940 to around 800 and will result in the closure of its Cork. Ballyshannon and Waterford depots. The group also has operations in Limerick, Donegal and Belfast.
She said there would be "limited" opportunities for redeployment for staff working at the depots earmarked for closure. Under the plan distribution will be centralised in Dublin.
A company spokeswoman said the job losses would come from a range of operations including logistics, finance, IT, and sales.
Billy O'Regan, managing director Britvic Ireland said: "It is regrettable but inevitable that these changes, which are vital for the sustainability of our business, will result in job losses."
The company said the "exceptionally challenging economic and retail conditions" in Ireland had accelerated the need to restructure the business. It will provide further detail of its changes in a statement on January 28th.
In its year-end results to September Britvic Ireland reported a 6.4 per cent fall in revenues to €240 million.
The Irish arm of UK-based soft drinks group Britvic produced an operating profit, before exceptional costs, of €21 million, 10.5 per cent ahead of its performance in 2007.
Britvic acquired C&C's soft drinks business in August 2007. Among its brands are Club soft drinks, Ballygowan water, Britvic and 7-Up.