This is to commemorate 20 years of operations in India and keeping with plans to invest $5bn in the key growth market by 2020.
The new Moon Beverages facility – the Coca-Cola system’s 57th plant in India – has two production lines. A can line will manufacture sparkling beverages, and an advanced still beverage line will produce juice, value-added water and sports drinks.
“This new plant reflects our belief in India as a strategic growth market with immense potential and will help catalyze local growth and development,” said Bozer. “Our investments in India are on track as we build scale, manufacturing capacity, distribution capability and a robust product portfolio to realise our business goals in India.”
Venkatesh Kini, deputy president, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia, said the country’s relatively low per-capita consumption levels point to significant opportunity in the years ahead.
“This plant will serve the growing consumer demand for high-quality, great-tasting and safe packaged beverages,” said Kini. “We see steady and robust growth in both sparkling and still beverage categories.”
Moon Beverages invested more than $23m to build the facility.
Coke’s volume in India has increased for 28 consecutive quarters, 19 of which have seen double-digit growth. Two core sparkling beverage brands – Sprite and Thums Up – are the country’s top-selling soft drink brands.
Trademark is one of the company’s fastest growing sparkling brands in India, and Maaza is the country’s No 1 juice drink. Kinley is India’s largest packaged water brand.
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