NewZNew (Chandigarh) :-Coca-Cola India, one of the country’s leading beverage companies, today unveiled yet another strategic bet in its journey to achieve its 2020 Vision, by launching Coca-Cola Zero.
The launch adds to the Company’s suite of Sparkling and Still products, which now includes Minute Maid juice drinks, Kinley packaged water, Schweppes sodas and mixers, Georgia tea and coffee, Energy drink – BURN and a range of sparkling beverages. The introduction of Coca-Cola Zero–one of The Coca-Cola Company’s most successful and significant innovations – follows the launch of Maaza Milky Delite in Punjab and Kolkata and the expansion of Schweppes footprint, during the year.
Coca-Cola Zero offers the same‘Great Coke Taste, with Zero sugar’ and is first being made available in the top 100 towns in India, both in traditional as well as modern trade. These cities contribute almost 90% of the SEC A urban population – a segment that is globally networked, well-traveled, has a distinct identity, is on-the-move and demands wider product choices.
With the launch of Coca-Cola Zero in India, the brand is now available in all the top 6 markets of The Coca-Cola Company, the others being USA, Mexico, China, Brazil and Japan. Coca-Cola Zero is one of the 17 billion dollar brands of The Coca-Cola Company in revenue terms and is one of the fastest to this milestone. It was first launched in 2005 and is now available in 149 countries including India.
Coca-Cola Zero adds to the hydration and refreshment choices available to the consumers in India.
In keeping with the bold, distinctive and individualistic character of Coca-Cola Zero, the first sip of the product was enjoyed by some of its most avowed consumers – actor Farhan Akhtar, Olympian luger, Shiva Keshavan, fashion designer, Sabyasachi Mukherjee and fashion photographer, Atul Kasbekar.They were joined on stage by Mr. ManpreetGulri, Country Head, Subway; Mr. Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure; Venkatesh Kini, President, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia and Debabrata Mukherjee, VP Marketing, Coca-Cola India.
In a gesture that recognized their love for Coca-Cola Zero, as also the availability of the product in India, four out of the 40,000 fans of Coca-Cola Zero on facebook, were presented the first packs of the product by Farhan Akhtar and Venkatesh Kini. Ayushi Markus (22 years) who is pursuing Chartered Accountancy stood alongsideVaibhav Gupta (25 years) – who explores the potential of new technologies as a career – to accept the first pack of Coca-Cola Zero. Vipul Bansal, a civil engineer and KarandeepWalia, a photographer were the other two lovers of Coca-Cola Zero to receive the first packs. These four youngsters have been following Coca-Cola Zero on facebook even before the launch of the product in India.
Speaking at the launch of Coca-Cola Zero in India, Mr. Venkatesh Kini, said;“As we move towards the halfway mark of the decade, it is important that we add new offerings to our portfolio even as we nurture the existing brands. Coca-Cola Zero comes at a time when Coca-Cola classic has established itself as one of the country’s favourite beverage brands with a wide distribution and manufacturing set up. It therefore complements our sparkling portfolio and leverages the manufacturing capacities that we have created over the last many years. We are on course to invest USD 5 BN by 2020 thereby providing beverage choices to consumers that complement their lifestyles and hydration needs. In a social and demographic set up, where consumers are increasingly demanding safe, hygienic, high quality and consistent hydration options, our portfolio is well placed to cater to the new age consumer’s requirements.”
The Coca-Cola System is innovating with new channels to build preference and anticipation for the beverage prior to the national, on ground, roll out. Coca Cola Zero will be available on Amazon India marketplace platform www.amazon.inso itscustomers across the country can experience it. Hindustan Coca-Cola’s own portalwww.Coke2Home.com will be listing Coca-Cola Zero after 15 days of launch at Amazon.
Coca-Cola Zero, in modern trade outlets, will first be available across the Reliance Retail chain. Reliance Retail will also partner with us to create the biggest ever display of a Coca-Cola product, in-store, one that would possibly make it to the Limca Book of Records.