ARC makes big splash in its ninth year
MANILA, Philippines - Asiawide Refreshments Corporation (ARC), the Philippine bottler of RC Cola, recently celebrated its ninth year in the soft drinks industry. The past nine years have been a journey for ARC, commented EVP-COO Gerry T. Garcia. “I’d like to think of our nine years as having traveled together, somewhat like a group of backpackers. We didn’t have much but we trudged on ahead, united by our common interests and our trust in each other.”
As a young player in an industry already dominated by cola giants, ARC dared to change the course with superior quality and value. “It was not easy,” recalls Garcia. “We were saddled with problems that at one point we were thinking, ‘Tagilid ata tayo.’ But nine years and six later, I can say that to get to where we are isn’t about the money or the product alone. It is our commitment to uphold our values.”
And living out this culture has made ARC the stable and trusted organization it is today — known to deliver on its commitment that not only cultivates superior value in its extensive brand portfolio of RC Cola and flavored softdrinks Fruit Soda, Juicy Lemon and ARCY’s Rootbeer —but takes great strides in valuing its relationships with its partners, consumers and its employees. These ingredients, when put together, bind ARC as one team, charting its course as a company that produces low-cost but high volume innovations.
Breaking ground in its base in Antipolo in 2003, ARC has expanded to include toll manufacturing plants in Kaybiga, Pampanga, Canlubang, Davao and Isabela. “I still have the first bottle ever produced from that first production line in Antipolo,” says Garcia, beaming. “And at that time, we were very happy because it took a lot of work to produce that one bottle.” Fast forward to 2012, and RC Cola is now a favored brand and the one most recommended based on the latest AC Nielsen survey as it makes its way to thousands of sari-sari stores, outlets and households across the country.
True to its theme, ARC has continued making a big splash for nine years. Simultaneous anniversary celebrations were held in all locations preceded by a thanksgiving mass and a short recognition program for select employees. Jumpstarting the countdown to ARC’s 10th year in 2013, Garcia charged each employee to dream ahead and continue pursuing dreams as one team. “What binds our company is what we say in our values. So let us uphold our commitment to live out these values and we can look forward to the next nine years,” adds Garcia. Closing the festivities with blasts of the ARC hymn Daigin ang Sariling Galing, the journey continues for ARC for more years of quality and value.
