Coca Cola to invest $250-mn in India

Kolkata: Beverage and soft drink giant Coca Cola India plans to invest $250 million (close to Rs 10,000 crore) in India in the next three years in equipment purchases, brand promotion and marketing.

Atul Singh, president and CEO of Coca Cola India, said, 'We have invested over $1 billion in India. Going forward, our thrust areas will be on the sparkling drinks category with brands Sprite and Limca, juices, packaged water and Georgia tea and coffee segments.'

Currently, the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are strategic countries on which the company is focusing.

Coca-Cola plans to introduce new brands in India. Globally, it sells 400 brands.

The company will also roll out 'pocket maaza' in 100 cities by this year-end. It has already test-marketed the product in Kolkata.

'We will also associate with sports to promote healthy active lifestyle which is also a perfect brandfit for us,' Singh said.

The company has finalised a 16-member junior football team which it will send to Rio de Janeiro for a week-long training by Brazilian Football Academy, as part of its ‘Coca Cola Football Champs' initiative.

The company would spend around Rs 1.5 crore for the purpose. Globally, Coca Cola has been supporting soccer and been associated with FIFA.

Singh said that the company would also promote sports in rural India.

'Next year, we plan to cover 30 cities and 300 schools in India. This year, we selected boys from 184 schools and eight cities,' Singh added.