03-06-2013, 03:53 PM
SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY IN INDIA
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INTRODUCTION
The 50-bn-rupee soft drink industry is growing now at 6 to 7% annually. In India, Coke and Pepsi have a combined market share of around 95% directly or through franchisees. Campa Cola has a 1% share, and the rest is divided among local players. Industry watchers say, fake products also account for a good share of the balance. There are about 110 soft drink producing units (60% being owned by Indian bottlers) in the country, employing about 125,000 people. There are two distinct segments of the market, cola and non-cola drinks. The cola segment claims a share of 62%, while the non-cola segment includes soda, clear lime, cloudy lime and drinks with orange and mango flavours.
The per capita consumption of soft drinks in India is around 5 to 6 bottles (same as Nepal's) compared to Pakistan's 17 bottles, Sri Lanka's 21, Thailand's 73, the Philippines 173 and Mexico 605. The industry contributes over Rs 12 bn to the exchequer and exports goods worth Rs 2 bn. It also supports growth of industries like glass, refrigeration, transportation, paper and sugar. The Department of Food Processing Industries had stipulated that 'contains-no-fruit-juice' labels be pasted on returnable glass bottles. About 85% of the soft drinks are currently sold in returnable bottles. There was a floating stock of about 1000 mn bottles valued at Rs 6 bn. If the industry were to abide by the new guidelines, it would have to invest in new bottles, resulting in a cost outgo of Rs 5 bn. Neither Coke nor Pepsi is in a position to invest such a large amount.
Around 400,000 tonnes of raw material would be required to replace the existing stock of bottles. Instead, the soft drink industry suggested that a seven-year moratorium be extended to the industry so that it can incorporate the change in a phased manner. There is no such mandatory requirement anywhere in the world to specifically label the glass surface of returnable bottles. The government has decided to extend the date for replacing the bottles to end-march 2006. In the meantime, the producers have shifted substantially to the use of PET bottles.
Soft and aerated drinks were considered products for the middle class and the affluent. That segregation is no more valid. Soft and aerated drinks are consumed by all except those who cannot afford to buy any drink. An NCAER study says that 91% soft drink sales are made to the lower, middle and upper middle classes. The soft drink industry has been urging the government to categorise aerated waters (soft drinks) equitably with other consumer products of mass consumption and remove special excise duty.