Coca-Cola and its Partners to Contribute USD 1.7 BN in Agri Ecosystem

By 121 News

Chandigarh 05^th June:- The Coca-Cola Company, its bottling partners and its fruit suppliers and processors in India, will contribute USD 1.7 BN+ in the agri ecosystem of the country over the next 5 years, spanning the entire supply chain from Grove to Glass through a unique concept called the Fruit Circular Economy. Close to USD 800 MN of this contribution would be towards the procurement of processed fruit pulp and fruit concentrate for The Coca-Cola Company's ever increasing portfolio of juice and juice drinks and carbonated drinks with juice products in India and the remaining would be invested towards creating the required infrastructure. The Company will further expand its juice product range with the launch of Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi, today. An estimated 200,000 farmers will benefit from this 5 year roadmap of sourcing fruit pulp and fruit concentrate derived out of 2.10 MN tonnes of fruit. 

The choicest of Indian Mosambi fruits have been locally sourced from Jalna in Maharashtra for Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi. The beverage contains Mosambi juice and additional pulp which provides a refreshing taste of juice to quench thirst and delights the taste buds, while the pulp can be chewed to relish a fruit-eating experience. Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi will be available across the country in 250 ml, 400 ml and 1 litre pack sizes affordably priced at INR 20, INR 30 and INR 70 respectively.

Handing over the first bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi to a farmer who grew the fruit for the beverage, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said that the agriculture sector in the country is undergoing rapid transformation with the focus on adoption of technology and scientific methods of farming across the value chain. In line with our commitment to the overall development of farmers, we are encouraging investments in the agriculture sector to substantially enhance productivity and farmers income. He is particularly happy today as long-standing demand of the farmers from Vidarbha and Marathwada is being fulfilled. It was a long cherished dream for them. We are happy with this commitment of significant investments in the agricultural economy which will play a key role in developing the agri sector in Maharashtra and help us in making the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji's vision to double the farm income by 2022.

Coca-Cola in India is working on a transitional journey focused on creating a virtuous Circular Economy of sustainable agriculture (horticulture) by using a variety of Indian fruits in its beverages under the juice and aerated drinks categories. Through this initiative The Coca-Cola Company owned bottling operation in India – Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages; 13 other independent franchise bottlers and fruit processing companies – will invest around USD 900 MN on manufacturing lines, juice bottling infrastructure and fruit processing plants and equipment and agriculture interventions over the next 5 years to support the demand and the growing range of the Company's non-carbonated drinks portfolio. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Jain Irrigation are already invested in Project Orange Unnati and Project Mango Unnati that promotes good science and technology like Ultra High Density Plantation (UHDP) and Micro Irrigation System for enhanced produce.

T Krishnakumar, President, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said that we have already expanded our Minute Maid juice range from 1 variant in 2007 to 11 variants in 2017 and if we are to realize our portfolio ambitions of being a Total Beverage Company, we must invest in the agri ecosystem. The launch of Minute maid Pulpy Mosambi marks the beginning of this transformational journey towards creating a sustainable Circular Economy with Indian fruits. More than 1,800 MT of the Mosambi fruit has already been sourced from Jalna in Maharashtra for the first phase of the Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi production. The investments announced today by Coca-Cola will further catalyze economic growth and create new opportunities for farmers and local suppliers.