Investment Underlines The Coca-Cola Company’s Focus on India as
Long-Term Strategic Growth Market, Brings Planned Investment to US$5
Billion by 2020
Coca-Cola India, the country’s leading beverage company, today announced
that the Coca-Cola system will invest an additional US$3 billion
(approximately Rs. 165,000 MN) in India through 2020 to further capture
growth opportunities in the country’s fast-growing nonalcoholic
ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverage market. With the new $3 billion
investment, the Coca-Cola system now plans to invest $5 billion in India
from 2012 to 2020.
“Achieving continued sustainable, responsible growth in India is core to
achieving our 2020 Vision of doubling system revenues in this decade,”
said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. “Our ongoing
investment in India is focused on delivering innovation, partnerships
and a portfolio that enhances the consumer experience, ensures product
affordability and builds brand loyalty to deliver long-term growth.”
NARTD beverages have enormous growth potential in India. Coca-Cola India
has registered unit case volume growth in India for the past 23
quarters, 17 of which have seen double-digit growth. Two of the
Company’s core sparkling brands – Thums Up and Sprite – are the
country’s top selling soft drink brands while brand Coca-Cola is one of
the country’s fastest growing sparkling brands, most recently reporting
27 percent growth in the first quarter. In the still beverage category,
Coca-Cola’s Maaza is India’s largest selling juice drink.
The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners have robust plans to
capture growth in India with investments in innovation, expansion of
distribution network, cold drink equipment placement and augmentation of
manufacturing capacity.
The Coca-Cola system has already invested more than US$2 billion in
India since it re-entered the country in 1993. Today’s announcement
brings the total investment number to US$7 billion since reentry into
India. The Coca-Cola India system currently directly employs more than
25,000 people and is estimated to have created indirect employment for
more than 150,000 people in related industries through its vast
procurement, supply chain and distribution system. The investments
announced today by Coca-Cola will further catalyze economic growth and
create new opportunities for local communities.
Atul Singh, President and CEO, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said,
“India is a strategic growth market for The Coca-Cola Company, ranking
among our top 10 markets in volume globally and as the largest market in
the Eurasia and Africa Group.
“Our India business has been growing at a robust rate over the last five
years, and our goal is to continue this momentum. The country’s
demographics, economic and social parameters are all huge drivers of
growth and we have to ensure that we continue to grow our offerings to
be the non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverage company of choice for
local consumers.”
The Coca-Cola system has a long history of partnership with
non-governmental organizations in India for community development and
sustainability initiatives. As a system, Coca-Cola has now achieved a
net zero balance with regard to groundwater usage in India. It is well
integrated with local Indian communities and is a valued contributor to
economic and social growth. The Company and its bottling partners are
strong supporters of education in India through programs like the
‘Coca-Cola Support My School’ campaign, which has created more than 100
model schools in India.
Worldwide, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners are investing
more than $30 billion over the next five years to support anticipated
growth. These investments range from new manufacturing facilities to new
distribution systems to new marketing investments in emerging economies.
About Coca-Cola in India
Coca-Cola in India refreshes millions of consumers with an exciting
range of beverages including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Fanta,
Limca, Sprite, Maaza, Maaza Milky Delite, Minute Maid Pulpy Orange,
Minute Maid Nimbu Fresh, Minute Maid Mixed Fruit, Minute Maid Apple,
Minute Maid Mango, Minute Maid 100% juices, Georgia, Georgia Gold,
Kinley, Kinley Club Soda, Schweppes and Burn through a network of more
than 1.5 million outlets.
Coca-Cola India provides extensive support for community programs across
the country, with a focus on education, health and water conservation
and has already undertaken over 500-rain water harvesting structures in
22 states of the country. For further information on the Company's India
operations and its products, please visit www.coca-colaindia.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The
Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still
brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's
portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta,
Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply,
Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling
beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through
the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than
200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a
day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities,
our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental
footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work
environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of
the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners,
we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than
700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com
or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo.
