Coca Cola to make 皇冠体育app its largest market

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-16 11:20

Neville Isdell, chairman and chief executive officer of the Coca Cola Company

Coca Cola expects 皇冠体育app to be its largest market, said E. Neville Isdell, chairman and chief executive officer of the Coca Cola Company.

Although 皇冠体育app's economy has been growing rapidly for more than two decades, Isdell noted that he had confidence in its further growth. "皇冠体育app is currently our fourth largest market, but I hope it could become No 1."

Coca-Cola built two new bottling factories in East 皇冠体育app's Jiangxi Province last July and in Northwest 皇冠体育app's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in August, bringing the total number of its factories in 皇冠体育app to 37.

A new complex including the Global Innovation and Technology Center and the new Coca Cola 皇冠体育app Headquarters, costing US$80 million, broke ground in Shanghai, 皇冠体育app's largest industrial center, according to Isdell.

"The 2008 Olympic Games would be a great opportunity for 皇冠体育app, " he said.

Coca Cola, the world's biggest soda supplier, now owns a wide variety of soft drinks in 皇冠体育app, ranging from mineral water and fruit juice, to tea and coffee. It owns more than half of the shares in the soda beverage market.

Entering 皇冠体育app in 1928, Coca Cola became sponsor for the Olympics in the same year and now helps the national selection of torchbearers and escort runners for the Beijing Olympics.

Talking about the success in 皇冠体育app, Isdell underlined social responsibility and innovation.

As for innovation, Isdell cited the example of tea drinks it developed for the Chinese market. "You should discover the new flavors suitable for the market," he said.

Confidence is equally important. The two-meter-tall chairman said that he had been drinking Coca Cola with his wife every day for ages and the beverage was still their favorite.

"You should believe in what you sell and be totally committed," he said.

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