Coca-Cola opens its 42nd Chinese bottling plant

The Coca-Cola Company has continued its investment in China, opening Coca-Cola China’s 42nd bottling plant on 29 March.

Located in Yingkou, Liaoning, the US$160 million plant is Coca-Cola’s largest production facility in China. The plant’s opening is part of the Coca-Cola Company’s US$4 billion investment plan in China.

Opening the Yingkou bottling plant. (Image courtesy of the Coca-Cola Company)

The 170,000 m² plant is expected to reach an annual production capacity of more than 5 billion serves of sparkling and still beverages, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Minute Maid and Ice Dew. The plant has four production lines currently in operation, with Coca-Cola planning to invest in another nine new lines.

The plant will directly create 500 jobs and Coca-Cola claims it will generate an additional 5000 job prospects in supporting industries.

“This US$160 million commitment to Yingkou is more than an investment in Coca-Cola’s expansion to capitalise on the fast-growing China market,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairperson and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. “It is also an important step by Coca-Cola to assist in the development of local communities throughout China.”

China is one of Coca-Cola’s fastest-growing markets. Its volume expanded by 13% in 2011 and Chinese consumption of Coca-Cola products represents 8% of the company’s global volume. In 2011, Coca-Cola announced that it and its Chinese bottling partners will invest US$4 billion in new infrastructure, partnerships, innovation, sustainability and brand building.

Coca-Cola says around 99% of its 50,000 employees are locally hired.