Coca-Cola continues strong investment in China with opening of 43rd production facility

Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, today inaugurated Coca-Cola China’s 43rd plant in China and its first in Shijiazhuang, Hebei. The new plant represents a US$106 million (RMB 650 million) investment and is part of a greater three-year, US$4 billion current investment plan for 2012-2014 that underscores Coca-Cola’s continued confidence in and commitment to China.

“Coca-Cola’s investment in China is strategically important in achieving our 2020 Vision goals, and largely possible due to our partnerships with COFCO and our other bottling partners,” said Kent. “This new plant in Shijiazhuang will help Coca-Cola create a lasting positive impact in the community and contribute to a sustainable future for the people of Hebei.”

The 170,000-square-meter (42 acres) plant begins bottling with both sparkling and still beverage lines producing Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid. Three additional lines will be installed over the next few years. With a population of more than 72 million and a per capita GDP of US$5,259, Hebei province has become one of the country’s most important growth markets.

The capital investment provides 2,000 jobs and generates 20,000 indirect job opportunities in the local community. The new Hebei plant implements Coca-Cola’s stringent conservation and source water protection plans and efficiently manages water use by reusing treated wastewater and replenishing water used back to the community. These efforts are part of the Company’s commitment to accelerate business growth in a responsible and sustainable manner.

“Coca-Cola’s bottling business is of strategic importance to the COFCO Group as it provides consumers with a full range of beverage choices,” said Zhang Jixiang, President and Chief Operation Officer of COFCO Coca-Cola. “Today’s inauguration of this world-class plant is a major milestone. Upon completion, it will become the largest of our 12 Coca-Cola bottling plants in China.”

With bottling plants in all five provinces of North China, this latest addition underpins Coca-Cola’s ability to deliver a robust portfolio of products that meet the increasingly diversified needs of consumers in China’s fast-growing beverage market. Hebei has generated more than 2.4 billion servings annually and delivered double-digit cumulative average annual growth since 2008.