The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, announced the opening and near completion of three new bottling plants in China worth a combined $240 million.

 

The new investments are a part of Coca-Cola’s three-year $2 billion accelerated investment in China and are the latest phase of Coca-Cola's long-term commitment to its business in China. The plants in Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, Luohe in Henan Province and Sanshui in Guangdong Province will locally produce beverages such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid.

 

The bottling plant in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, which opened last week, is the 41st Coca-Cola bottling plant in China. The Luohe facility will be the largest Coca-Cola production facility in China and will begin production this month. The plant was built to the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environment Design standard, showcasing many energy and water conservation features, the company said. The Sanshui plant also is scheduled to commence production by the end of 2010.

 

The three plants together will directly create 2,000 new jobs in the local communities and approximately 20,000 additional indirect employment opportunities in the supporting industries. By the end of 2010, six Coca-Cola plants will have been inaugurated in China during the past two years.