Coca Cola opens country's largest bottling plant

CIBITUNG, West Java (JP): Coca Cola opened yesterday its 11th and largest bottling plant in Indonesia as part of its three-year US$225 million investment program in the country.

M. Douglas Ivester of Coca Cola Company said the new plant, that cost Rp 180 billion (US$72 million), brought the Coca Cola system investment in Indonesia to more than $225 million.

"And we are not stopping now ... We plan to invest another $225 million in the next three years alone," Ivester said at the launching of the plant in Bekasi, which was attended by State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan and West Java Governor R. Nuriana.

The plant has an annual production capacity of 65 million cases (including cans and glass bottles). It is owned and operated by PT Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia, which does the bottling and marketing of Coca Cola products in Indonesia.

Ivester described the Cibitung plant as "the most technologically advanced plant anywhere in the 22 countries where Coca Cola Amatil operates."

The Coca Cola system here is run by two companies, Coca Cola Indonesia, which is responsible for the production of cola concentrate and the promotion of the products, and Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia.

Coca Cola Indonesia is a branch of Coca Cola International of the United States, while Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia is a venture between Coca Cola Amatil of Australia and the Pan Java partners.

Drinks under the Coca Cola license include Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Hi-C tea and Bonaqa packaged drinking water.

Coca Cola Amatil Indonesia claims it supplies over 400,000 retail outlets in the country, ranging from the smallest roadside kiosks to the largest supermarkets.

Every day in Indonesia, more than five million servings of Coca Cola products are consumed, Ivester said.

One serving is about eight ounces or an average glass. (oby/rid)