Coca-Cola profit still up despite health drink fad

Owing to its wide distribution channel composed of sari-sari stores that accounts for the major bulk of its consumers, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. still managed to enjoy positive growth for the last two years despite the emergence of health-friendly beverages against carbonated drinks.

Coca Coca Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Cebu plant operations manager Antonio S. Limjap said in an interview that although there is slight slowdown in soft drink sales in the schools, the company is now eyeing the residential community areas as big contributor to the sales of Coca Cola products.

Although in school areas, sales for sparkling products of Coke has declined, because of some school's implementation to sell only juices, and not carbonated soft drink products.

The Cebu bottling plant is running on 85 percent capacity, producing a total of 1.5 million to 1.7 million cases of soft-drink or sparkling drink products a month, including already its low-cost soft-drink brands, Jazz, Sparkle, and Sarsi.

The decline of its sales in schools is, however being offset by the strong demand for other Coca-Cola healthy drink products, like Fun Chum, Eight O'clock Juice, he said.

The Cebu plant is servicing the demand from all over the province, and some Coca-Cola dispenser outlets in other parts of the Visayas. – Ehda M. Dagooc