India: Kandhari Global Beverages gets approval to acquire Coca-Cola bottling plant

Kandhari Global Beverages has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire a Coca-Cola bottling facility in northern Gujarat for 2,000 crore INR ($240 million).

According to reports, the transaction supports Coca-Cola’s long-term goal of minimising its direct bottling footprint by placing regulatory compliance in the hands of Indian businesses and bottling partners.

Kandhari Global Beverages is described as an authorised bottler of Coca-Cola and Schweppes Holdings, operating eight facilities with a total capacity of 12,000 bottles per minute, and distributing non-alcoholic beverages across Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

As a result of the transfer, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCBL), Coca-Cola’s bottling division in India, will transfer its operations in producing and distributing non-alcoholic beverages across North Gujarat and the Union Territory of Diu to Kandhari Global Beverages.

HCCBPL will maintain its operations at 15 bottling plants across India.

Source: StoryBoard18 / CCI