Coke, Pepsi On A Rural Drive To Push Sales

Companies signing up thousands of village retailers

Soft drinks giants Coca-Cola and Pepsi have signed on thousands of new retailers in a drive into rural India that has pushed up sales steeply.

Coca-Cola has made its beverages available in 40,000 additional villages in the last three years.

As a result, the rural areas now contribute 35 per cent of the company