Largest bottling partner of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages plans to open Rs.450-crore facility in Sanand, Gujarat by January as it tests more than 20 new products made locally in a bid to make India among its top three global markets.
The facility will have multiple bottling lines for carbonated beverages such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Limca, Thumbs Up, juices and juice-based drinks like Minute Maid, Mazza, and, bottled water Kinley soda.
Increasing health awareness among consumers and their preference for health and wellness products are the likely reasons for strong growth expected in juices. Carbonates, both cola and non-cola carbonates were likely to see sustained slowdowns in volume growth rates as per the April report.
Food industry in India is projected at Rs.14, 500 crore. The non-alcoholic beverages market stands about $5 billion and health beverages market is $300 million which are growing fast. The fruit drinks market is Rs. 6,000 crore, as per Indian Beverages Association.
Juice industry in India is seeing explosive growth as more Indians are switching from fresh to packaged juice. More Indians are entering the non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink segment. Coca-Cola will be pushing the existing factories to see how to make new juices, carbonated drinks and new products.