April 22, 2021
Strategic investment by Coca-Cola to build a long term presence in India is intact. According to the President of Coca-Cola India and southwest Asia, Sanket Ray, they firmly believe that India as a market has a phenomenal business potential over the long term.
Remarkably, the company has accomplished its planned investment of $5 billion announced in 2012 for retail infrastructure creation, bottling plants and introduction of new products, amongst others. Besides, it has committed an investment of $1.7 billion towards creating a “Fruit Circular Economy” aiding the Indian agri-ecosystem till 2023.
Since its re-entry into India in 1993 till 2011, Coca-Cola invested $2 billion in the country.
Besides, the newly created networked structure, INSWA (India and southwest Asia) has become one of the nine operating units directly reporting to US-based beverage major’s Head Quarters.
Recently, in a thorough restructuring exercise, the company created new operating units focused on regional and local execution. And with this, the company expects faster execution of projects in India and to further digitize its business.
Segment-wise, the ‘home consumption’ category has remained robust and growing. The beverage giant is working with ‘out of home’ customers to revive the business in a safe way. For the ‘at home consumers’, it is introducing new offerings and packs especially multi-packs and affordable entry home packs.
In addition, the company will concentrate on increasing its digital footprint both in urban as well as in the rural market.
“Through our tie-up with ‘Common Services Center’, we have ensured rural last-mile delivery by listing all our popular products on their ‘Grameen e-store platform’ thereby building least-expensive solutions to essential hydration needs.