FOOD

Coca-Cola Enterprises to Buy European Firms: The Atlanta-based concern said it signed a letter of intent to acquire Coca-Cola bottling and canning operations in France and Belgium for $915 million in cash and assumption of debt. The operations include Coca-Cola Beverages and Coca-Cola Production in France and S.A. Beverage Sales Holding in Belgium, which had 1995 revenue of $1.2 billion. Summerfield Johnston Jr., vice chairman and chief executive of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the world’s biggest bottler of soft drinks, said the purchases would boost the company’s long-term growth and share value. Coca-Cola Enterprises is 44%-owned by Coca-Cola Co. Coca-Cola Enterprises’ stock was up 62.5 cents at $29 on the New York Stock Exchange.