| Global soft drinks giant Coca-Cola today reported 21 per cent growth in volumes in India in the September quarter.
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| In the first quarter of this calendar year, the figure was only 4 per cent, rising to 12 per cent in the second. The company had posted single-digit growth in each of the quarters of 2006.
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| The September quarter performance is understood to be the company’s first high double-digit quarterly growth in India in three years. It was driven by double-digit growth in carbonated soft drinks and high double-digit growth in what the company calls “still drinks”, such as Maaza.
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| Globally, sparkling beverage (in other words, aerated) grew 4 per cent and still drinks by 14 per cent.
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| “In the quarter, performance in our Latin America, Africa, Eurasia and the Pacific operating groups remained robust and solid results in Japan, India and the Philippines reflected our ability to restore sustainable growth to key markets,” Muhtar Kent, president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
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| The Atlanta-based company’s net income from international markets increased 13 per cent to $1.65 billion.
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| According to market estimates, Thums Up, which Coca-Cola bought from Ramesh Chauhan’s Parle, is the number one cola brand in India, followed by Pepsi and Coca-Cola. However, Coke and Thums Up together give Coca-Cola the leadership.
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| The company, which also sells orange drink Fanta and cloudy lemon drink Limca, launched its orange
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| drink Minute Maid Pulpy Orange in India in February this year and took it national in May.
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| Industry experts say the robust results in the last quarter signify a recovery from the pesticides controversy that had bogged down both Coke and arch rival PepsiCo.
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| According to research agency Euromonitor, the battleground for beverages has moved from carbonates to bottled water and fruit and vegetable juices. |
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