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NEW DELHI, Feb. 14

THE battle over market shares between the two cola majors has taken a fresh turn.

Coca-Cola India (CCI) has issued a statement announcing 23 per cent growth in carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), claiming leadership in four of the top five soft drink brands in the country. The communiqué also announced that the company's CSD sales volume for the year ended December 31, 2002 was 61 per cent, up from 57 per cent in the calendar year 2001.

The statement also said that during the year, Kinley became the leading water brand with 37 per cent market share, and that by the end of the year, the company's network of retailers had topped the one-million mark.

In a written statement, CCI's Division President, Mr Alex von Behr, said, "Our company has got connected with consumers through a number of fresh measures taken during the year. Rural initiatives for CSDs, driving affordability through lower price points and strengthening distribution to make products available in new markets have proved to be a great success, expanding the consumer base. The Coke brand has the highest brand preference amongst CSDs, while Thums Up is poised to become the largest CSD in the country.''

On investments, Mr von Behr's statement said, "We are investing over $100 million in our operations in India during the current year.''

Meanwhile, a Pepsi India release stated Brand Pepsi as being the largest soft drink brand in India. "Brand Pepsi ended the year 2002 with 24 per cent share of the overall soft drinks market in the country. Overall, PepsiCo brands ended with 47.6 per cent share of the domestic soft drinks market.''

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