Coca-Cola System to invest US$1.3 billion in Chile from 2012 to 2016

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a new five-year system investment of US$1.3 billion in Chile from 2012 to 2016, including $200 million recently invested to construct a new Coca-Cola Andina bottling plant in Renca, which officially opened yesterday.

Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, made the announcement at the new plant alongside Felipe Larraín, Finance Minister of the Republic of Chile, representatives of the Chilean Congress, and other private sector and civil society representatives.

“The Coca-Cola Company and our bottling partners share a deep commitment to the continued development of Chile,” Kent said. “For more than 66 years we have contributed to the progress of the country and will continue to do so with enthusiasm and conviction. We are devoting resources to innovation and productivity, creating jobs for Chileans, and helping thousands of small- and medium-size entrepreneurs throughout the country to grow their businesses sustainably.”

The Coca-Cola system’s local investment in Chile will not only be dedicated to infrastructure, equipment, technology and marketing, but also to sustainability initiatives to return water back to nature, reduce the use of energy in production, develop recycling programs and promote physical activity.

Coca-Cola Andina President Juan Claro expressed his pride for the fact that the new Renca plant is the most modern in the Coca-Cola system in Latin America and a model for the Coca-Cola system throughout the world.

“This new plant is aligned with the vision we have at Coca-Cola Andina to be a benchmark of sustainability – a very attractive company with sustainable development and innovation. We want to make a difference as a company that cares about providing a quality work environment, cares about the environment, contributes to the country and to the community, and focuses on efficiency in the growth of our production, marketing and logistics,” Claro said.

Executive Vice President of Coca-Cola Andina, Miguel Angel Peirano, also emphasized the stringent environmental criteria under which the new plant was built.

“We are very pleased to have obtained LEED certification that sets international standards of quality in the use of soil, water, energy, indoor air quality, the use of building materials and innovation in architectural design. It is a very challenging certification to be achieved in any part of the world,” he said.

Located in the town of Renca, the new Coca-Cola Andina plant covers 243,000 square meters and houses 10 production lines, which can be expanded to 12. Ninety percent of the building materials used in construction of the facility can be recycled at the end of their life cycle. The plant’s design also optimizes the use of water and energy.