India: Coca-Cola breaks ground on Madhya Pradesh plant

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Coca-Cola's Indian bottling arm, has broken ground on a new plant in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India, according to a report in the Economic Times.

The 110 acre bottling facility will house lines for the firm's carbonated beverage brand including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Thums Up and Limca, the Economic Times article said. As well as soft drinks, the plant will bottle juices and juice-based drinks under the Minute Maid and Maaza brands,  Kinley brand club soda and bottled water products.

The facility, which is reportedly being funded by a 750 crore IRN ($110 million) investment,  will have different wings for production and warehousing and will operate a zero discharge plan, the report continues.

Commenting on the move, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages chairman & CEO T Krishnakumar said: "Our investment trajectory is very much in line with India's long-term growth strategy of building sustainable, long-term businesses contributing to national and local economy as well as local-social fabric".

Source: Economic Times