The Hindu Business Line : Coke's bottling unit chief likely to visit India next week

THE President of Bottling Investments of Coca-Cola Company, Mr Irial Finan, is scheduled to visit the Indian operations next week. Mr Finan is likely to be accompanied by Coke's Asia-Pacific chief Mr Patrick Siewert, who looks after markets including India, Australia and the Philippines.

Industry sources said the two visitors may be here to review the level of investments the Atlanta-based soft drink company has made in India till now and assess the need for future inflows. Also, the two could review the operational structure of Coca-Cola in India, sources added.

When contacted, a company spokesperson confirmed that Mr Finan is expected to arrive on Monday, accompanied by Mr Siewert, but termed the visit as "routine".

When asked whether Mr Finan was expected to announce any structural changes in Coke's Indian operations, he said: "India has always been of strategic importance for the Coca-Cola Company. We continue to work as an integrated Indian business driving growth, with adequate focus on all aspects of operations."

Mr Finan assumed charge as the President of Bottling Investments at Atlanta last year, with the responsibility of managing the company's equity investments in bottling operations and overseeing the operations of company-owned bottlers around the world.

In India, Coca-Cola bottling operations are handled by its 51-per cent subsidiary Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. However, unlike in the US where the marketing and bottling operations are separate, in India all operations are headed by the Division President, Mr Sanjeev Gupta.

The bottling operations in India are almost evenly divided between those owned by Coca-Cola itself and the franchisee-owned plants. The spokesperson said there were 24 company-owned and 26 franchisee-owned bottling plants in the country.

Mr Finan's visit comes at a time when Coca-Cola India is embroiled in a long-drawn battle over ground water usage at its Plachimada plant. Also, sales of carbonated soft drinks have seen lower-than-expected growth this summer due to increased prices (compared to last year) and an erratic weather. A recent Rajasthan High Court judgment asking Coca-Cola and Pepsi to print pesticide residue content on CSD bottles is also seen as a dampener for this industry.

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