Coca-Cola marks anniversary with sparkling growth
The Coca-Cola Company is celebrating worldwide volume growth of 6% during its 125th anniversary quarter.
The soft drinks giant has seen the same level of reported growth for its year to date.
Both sparkling and still beverages grew volume. Worldwide volume growth was led by the Coca-Cola brand, up 4% in the quarter and 3% year to date.
Worldwide still beverage volumes rose 7% in the quarter with demand for juices, juice drinks, water brands and energy drinks rising. Still beverages grew 10% worldwide but only 1% in North America.
The company’s reported net revenue rose 47% for the second quarter to $12.7 bn (£7.86bn). Year to date net revenue rose 44% to $23.3 bn (£14.4 bn).
Marketing activity focused on the 125th anniversary began in April with an advertisement knitting together images from iconic campaigns, soundtracked by the song “I’d like to teach the world to sing from the company’s “hilltop” campaign in the 1970s
During the period Coca-Cola also implemented the campaign based on its London 2012 Olympics sponsorship with the “Future Flames” activity.
Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent says: “We are pleased with our second quarter performance results. We completed the second quarter of 2011, and the sixth quarter of our 2020 Vision, by delivering results ahead of our long-term growth targets.
“Importantly, we are delivering these strong results at a time when global macroeconomic conditions are at best mixed.”
Kent adds that while it is “wonderfully rewarding” to celebrate Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary “we remain constructively discontent and resolutely focused on our future”.
Coca-Cola operates across five geographic regions with Eurasia & Africa together with Pacific leading with 7% growth while Europe saw 5% and North America 4% growth.
Read Marketing Week’s exclusive interview with Kent and Coca-Cola marketing chiefs here
