Coca-Cola on track with Mindanao expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Expansion projects of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) in Mindanao are on track despite the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

CCBPI president and chief executive officer Gareth McGeown said during the  29th Mindanao Business Conference that the firm, which poured in an additional $22 million to bring the total investment to over $95 million this year, has allocated a significant amount to increase operational capacity in Mindanao by 30 percent.

“Mindanao has been a growth engine for us for the last few years. We have seen that our growth rates in the region have continued to expand double-digit over the last two to three years, and we have a firm belief that such growth will continue,” he said.

Earlier, he said the investments in Mindanao would go to production lines in Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga and Santa Cruz outside Davao.

He said consumers in Mindanao are more open to new products compared to those in Metro Manila, which is why the area plays a critical role in the launch of new portfolio brands and variants.

“More than the consumers’ taste and preferences, the region’s growth rate gives us a reason to believe that great days are ahead for Mindanao,” he said.

Apart from building additional production lines in Mindanao which will create new job opportunities, CCBPI is pursuing other investment plans.

In particular, the P1-billion food-grade recycling facility will soon rise in General Trias in Cavite.

The recycling facility project is being undertaken with Indorama Ventures, a global leader in recycling and green technologies.

CCBPI expects the facility to be operational by the fourth quarter of next year.

CCBPI is also implementing a program called Balik Pinas which provides business opportunities for returning overseas Filipino workers to the country.

“No business can run independently of the communities they operate in. One of the reasons why Coca-Cola has been successful for so long is that we are an integral part of all communities we operate in,” McGeown said.