Coca Cola bottler SLMG eyes high single-digit growth despite tepid quarters

SLMG Beverages expects high single-digit growth in 2025 despite weak quarters, eyes Rs 9,000 crore revenue in FY26 and Rs 20,000 crore by FY32 amid expansion plans

Coca Cola’s largest independent bottler in the country, the Ladhani group-owned SLMG Beverages, is eyeing a high single-digit growth in 2025 (CY25) on account of a bumper festival and wedding season.

 

“We had a brilliant March quarter due to the early summers, but excessive rainfall and geopolitical tensions impacted business in the subsequent quarters, bringing down business substantially. However, we are hopeful that by the end of the year, we’ll record a growth in the late single-digit or low double-digit,” said Paritosh Ladhani, joint managing director, SLMG Beverages.

 

The company is eyeing a gross revenue of ₹9,000 crore in financial year 2026 (FY26).

 

“We were hopeful of crossing ₹10,000 crore in gross revenue in FY26, but heavy unseasonal rains have forced us to adjust our targets this year. We are still hopeful of clocking ₹20,000 in gross revenue by 2031-32,” he added.

 

Speaking about the GST rate cuts, Ladhani said that prices of almost 30 per cent of the company’s portfolio, comprising juices and water, will be impacted by the cuts, while adding that the company has decided to pass on the benefits to consumers.

 

Coca Cola sells Kinley branded water and juice under the Maaza brand.

 

The company, which is among the top 15 bottlers globally for Coca-Cola, plans to invest around ₹8,000 crore in the next six years for expansion.

 

This will come from a mix of internal accruals and debts, Ladhani bad told Business Standard earlier. The company has recently announced a new plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur and has an installed capacity of 22,000 bottled per minute currently.

 

“This is expected to increase to 27,000 by the end of this year, after commissioning of a unit in Buxer, Bihar,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, speaking about the Ladhani Group’s hospitality business, he said an investment of ₹3,000 crore is earmarked to grow that vertical.

 

“Currently, we are at 550 keys and, after the Taj Gateway in Hardiwar comes in the next six months, we will be at 700 keys-plus,” Ladhani said. He added, “We plan to reach over 1,500 rooms, which could happen in five to six years, depending on the hospitality industry growth.”

 

The Group is in talks with American hospitality chain Hilton for a new hotel in Agra for its Waldorf Astoria brand, he told Business Standard.