Coca-Cola Phls expands Cebu unit

MANILA, Philippines - Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines announced recently the expansion of their manufacturing operations in Cebu province through the addition of another bottling line, significantly increasing their production capability to meet the growing demand for their products in the region.

“True to our promised $1-billion investment in the Philippines over the next five years, we’re going from island to island. We began in Mindanao, with the completion of our newest and most technologically advanced Mega Plant in Misamis Oriental. Then we moved on to Luzon, where we expanded our Canlubang plant and transformed it into a center of operational excellence. And now, we’ve reached the Visayas,” said Irial Finan, executive vice president for The Coca-Cola Co. and president of the Bottling Investments Group.

Finan was in Cebu to lead the inauguration of Coca-Cola Cebu plant’s expansion. Guests of honor included Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

“Coca-Cola is celebrating its 100th year anniversary in the Philippines. I can’t think of a better way to jumpstart this historic year than to be inaugurating the expansion of our Cebu plant,” added Finan.

The Coca-Cola Cebu plant was first established in December 1941. It was the second bottling facility to be opened by Coca-Cola after arriving in Manila in 1912.

The expansion is also seen to generate employment opportunities in the area. The plant currently employs around 370 associates. Roughly 40,000 retailers do business with Coca-Cola in Cebu.

“Coca-Cola and the Cebuanos share a history that spans 70 years. We recognized the potential this city had to offer back then, which guided our decision 70 years ago to establish our second plant in the Philippines here. And we still believe in the many opportunities Cebu has to offer, which is why Coca-Cola has once again chosen Cebu as its center for expansion in the region,” said Bill Schultz, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines president and CEO.

Aside from its business expansion, Coca-Cola has also made many community investments in the region. Through The Coca-Cola Foundation, the company has focused on water conservation through the Butuanon Watershed Conservation program, as well as providing underprivileged children with access to quality education via The Little Red Schoolhouse.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Co. based in Atlanta, USA, operates 23 plants and 47 sales offices across the Philippines, with over 7,000 employees. Aside from Cebu, other areas in the Visayas where CCBP is present include Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, and Tacloban.

Coca-Cola has been in the Philippines since the beginning of the 20th century and has been locally produced since 1912. The Philippines was the first non-US nation to receive a Coca-Cola bottling and distribution franchise. The Philippine bottling operation is currently among the top ten biggest globally.

The Coca-Cola Co.y is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the company’s portfolio includes 14 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater(r), Powerade, Minute Maid(r), Simply and Georgia. Globally, Coca-Cola is the no. one provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees.

Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.