Coca-Cola India has reported robust double-digit volume growth in the first quarter of 2025, powered by a strong performance from its flagship cola brands—Thums Up and Coca-Cola—and a major sales boost from the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
According to the Atlanta-based beverage giant’s global earnings report released Tuesday, India emerged as one of the top-performing markets globally, alongside China and Brazil, contributing significantly to the company’s 2% worldwide growth in unit case volume for the quarter.
A key driver of this performance was the Maha Kumbh Mela, held in January and February, which served as a major consumer engagement and distribution event for Coca-Cola. The company undertook an unprecedented marketing and sales activation at the religious gathering, establishing hundreds of refreshment zones, 1,400 mobile stations, and a 100-door cooler wall. These efforts led to the consumption of over 180 million servings during the event, marking the first time the company implemented such a large-scale operation at the mela.
“In India, trademark Coca-Cola and Thums Up are fuelling consumers and contributing to double-digit volume growth for the market in the first quarter,” the company stated in its filing.
Retail Expansion and Market Confidence
Further bolstering its performance, Coca-Cola expanded its retail footprint by adding 350,000 new outlets during the quarter. Chairman and CEO James Quincey, speaking to investors, noted that India had “a really good start to the year,” and reiterated confidence in the market’s long-term growth trajectory.
“We had good momentum in Asia Pacific, very strongly driven by a good quarter in India,” Quincey said, adding that both global and local brands in the country showed impressive volume growth.
While the company acknowledged a dip in the broader non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage segment in India, the overall momentum remains strong for its core cola offerings. Brands such as Sprite and Maaza continue to support portfolio strength, although the lion’s share of recent growth has been cola-driven.Coca-Cola India has reported robust double-digit volume growth in the first quarter of 2025, powered by a strong performance from its flagship cola brands—Thums Up and Coca-Cola—and a major sales boost from the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
According to the Atlanta-based beverage giant’s global earnings report released Tuesday, India emerged as one of the top-performing markets globally, alongside China and Brazil, contributing significantly to the company’s 2% worldwide growth in unit case volume for the quarter.
A key driver of this performance was the Maha Kumbh Mela, held in January and February, which served as a major consumer engagement and distribution event for Coca-Cola. The company undertook an unprecedented marketing and sales activation at the religious gathering, establishing hundreds of refreshment zones, 1,400 mobile stations, and a 100-door cooler wall. These efforts led to the consumption of over 180 million servings during the event, marking the first time the company implemented such a large-scale operation at the mela.
“In India, trademark Coca-Cola and Thums Up are fuelling consumers and contributing to double-digit volume growth for the market in the first quarter,” the company stated in its filing.
Retail Expansion and Market Confidence
Further bolstering its performance, Coca-Cola expanded its retail footprint by adding 350,000 new outlets during the quarter. Chairman and CEO James Quincey, speaking to investors, noted that India had “a really good start to the year,” and reiterated confidence in the market’s long-term growth trajectory.
“We had good momentum in Asia Pacific, very strongly driven by a good quarter in India,” Quincey said, adding that both global and local brands in the country showed impressive volume growth.
While the company acknowledged a dip in the broader non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage segment in India, the overall momentum remains strong for its core cola offerings. Brands such as Sprite and Maaza continue to support portfolio strength, although the lion’s share of recent growth has been cola-driven.