PHOTO
12 October 2016
By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: World’s largest beverage maker The Coca-Cola Company yesterday announced the official opening of its Al Mana Plant which entails an investment of $36m (QR132m). It is the first bottling plant in Qatar by Coca-Cola which has more than 500 brands and sells 1.9 billion servings a day in more than 200 countries.
Located in the New Industrial Area, the bottling plant is spread over an area of more than 28,000 square metres and contains PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle production lines that will produce a range of sparkling and still beverages.
Dana Shell Smith, US Ambassador to Qatar, Irial Finan, Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company and President of the Bottling Investments Group, Saud O Al Mana, Vice Chairman of Al Mana Group, Tariq O Al Almana, Group Finance Director of Al Mana Group, Murat Ozgel, General Manager for Coca-Cola Middle East and Mohammed Akeel, Managing Director for Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Bahrain and Qatar were present in the inauguration ceremony. “We selected Qatar because of its unique position in the region and it being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The country has a 2030 Vision, which aligns with our own mission to build local, consumer-driven, customer-focused, profitable and sustainable businesses,” said Finan. “The creation of this plant allows us to proudly manufacture and distribute beverages in Qatar, invest in our people and provide tangible economic benefit to the country,” he added.
Development of the state-of-the art facility began in 2014, and the plant will employ approximately 300 staff in the first phase including production and distribution.
The Atlanta based beverage giant said the plant represents Coca-Cola’s long-term commitment to Qatar and is the latest in a series of investments throughout the Middle East region.
The facility is expected to increase the Company’s production and ensure we meet the growing demands of the country and, potentially, the region.
“We are proud to be a part of Qatar and we will work to earn the trust of consumers, customers, business partners and all of our stakeholders in the country,” he said.
The inauguration of the new plant comes as part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to being a global business with an intensive local focus. Coca-Cola’s presence in Qatar has to date included a number of partnerships across sectors including community and government, and initiatives such as Thirst Quenchers and Copa Coca-Cola.
Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognisable brands, company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Its billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak.
By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: World’s largest beverage maker The Coca-Cola Company yesterday announced the official opening of its Al Mana Plant which entails an investment of $36m (QR132m). It is the first bottling plant in Qatar by Coca-Cola which has more than 500 brands and sells 1.9 billion servings a day in more than 200 countries.
Located in the New Industrial Area, the bottling plant is spread over an area of more than 28,000 square metres and contains PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle production lines that will produce a range of sparkling and still beverages.
Dana Shell Smith, US Ambassador to Qatar, Irial Finan, Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company and President of the Bottling Investments Group, Saud O Al Mana, Vice Chairman of Al Mana Group, Tariq O Al Almana, Group Finance Director of Al Mana Group, Murat Ozgel, General Manager for Coca-Cola Middle East and Mohammed Akeel, Managing Director for Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Bahrain and Qatar were present in the inauguration ceremony. “We selected Qatar because of its unique position in the region and it being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The country has a 2030 Vision, which aligns with our own mission to build local, consumer-driven, customer-focused, profitable and sustainable businesses,” said Finan. “The creation of this plant allows us to proudly manufacture and distribute beverages in Qatar, invest in our people and provide tangible economic benefit to the country,” he added.
Development of the state-of-the art facility began in 2014, and the plant will employ approximately 300 staff in the first phase including production and distribution.
The Atlanta based beverage giant said the plant represents Coca-Cola’s long-term commitment to Qatar and is the latest in a series of investments throughout the Middle East region.
The facility is expected to increase the Company’s production and ensure we meet the growing demands of the country and, potentially, the region.
“We are proud to be a part of Qatar and we will work to earn the trust of consumers, customers, business partners and all of our stakeholders in the country,” he said.
The inauguration of the new plant comes as part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to being a global business with an intensive local focus. Coca-Cola’s presence in Qatar has to date included a number of partnerships across sectors including community and government, and initiatives such as Thirst Quenchers and Copa Coca-Cola.
Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognisable brands, company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Its billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak.
© The Peninsula 2016
