FDBusiness.com

The Coca-Cola Company has opened its 42 and largest bottling plant in China. Located in Yingkou, Liaoning, the new production facility spans an area of more than 170,000 square meters (42 acres), the represents a $160 million investment in China and is part of a three-year, $4 billion investment plan announced last year that underscores the Coca-Cola system’s confidence in China and its fast-growing beverage market.

Upon completion, this third bottling plant in Liaoning, operated by Coca-Cola Liaoning (Central) Beverages, is expected to reach an annual production capacity of more than 5 billion servings of sparkling and still beverages, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Minute Maid and Ice Dew. Coca-Cola plans to invest in nine production lines at the new facility, with four currently in operation.

The plant will directly create 500 jobs and generate an additional 5,000 job opportunities in the supporting industries. Together with two other existing plants in Shenyang and Dalian, this new investment will allow Coca-Cola to provide better services and refreshing products to 44 million consumers in Liaoning Provinceand enhance its contribution to local development.

“This $160 million commitment to Yingkou is more than an investment in Coca‑Cola’s expansion to capitalize on the fast-growing China market. It is also an important step by Coca-Cola to assist in the development of local communities throughout China,” says Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of The Coca-Cola Company. “China is a vast growth market for Coca-Cola. As we work to double the size of our global business in this decade, China will play a critical role.”

China is one of the fastest-growing markets for The Coca-Cola Company, with volume expanding by 13% in 2011, maintaining double-digit growth in nine of the last 10 years. Consumption of Coca-Cola products in China now represents approximately 8% of the company’s global volume. Coca-Cola announced last year that starting in 2012 it and its Chinese bottling partners will make a $4 billion investment in new infrastructure, partnerships, innovation, sustainability and brand building over the next three years.