Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) on Monday announced the inauguration of a new plant at WBIIDC’s Raninagar industrial park in the Jalpaiguri district of Bengal.
The plant, which entails an investment of Rs 660 crore, is the second factory of the beverage maker in the state. Both plants are located in the same industrial area, the company said in a statement.
The plant was inaugurated by Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee virtually during a programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta.
HCCB produces brands such as Minute Maid, Maaza, SmartWater, Kinley, Thums Up, Sprite, Coca-Cola, Limca, Fanta and the Georgia range of tea and coffee.
“We have invested Rs 660 crore in building this factory. It employs 100 people directly and another 150 people indirectly.
“This is the second factory that HCCB operates at WBIIDC, Jalpaiguri,” said Neeraj Garg, chairman HCCB.
“The first factory was started in 2000 and we have invested Rs 300 crore. Together between the two factories, HCCB has invested nearly Rs 1,000 crore in the state. Our older factory already employs 170 people directly and 450 indirectly,” said Garg.
The company said that the entire value stream from the processing of raw materials to the despatch of finished products flows in one direction with an eye to eliminate waste and increase efficiency.
“The factory is completely digitised and has the potential to change the future of manufacturing in India,” said Garg.
Around 35,000 cubic metres of concrete and 6,000 tonnes of reinforced steel have been used for construction. Around two-thirds of the workforce will be women.
HCCB has announced the launch of a career development centre in Siliguri to make less privileged youth job ready.
The company operates four such career development centres across India and has trained over 10,000 students.
Bangalore-based HCCB operates 15 factories and manufactures 60 products. The company is able to serve 25 lakh retailers and 3,500 distributors. Around 250,000 farmers grow the agricultural produce that HCCB uses in making its products.
Health supplement
Tata Consumer Products on Monday said it has entered the health supplements segment with the launch of a plantbased protein powder, reports PTI.
Tata GoFit, a health supplement range for women, is a plant-based easy-to-mix product formulated with the goodness of gut-friendly probiotics.
The Tata group is understood to have initiated talks with Bisleri International to acquire a stake in the packaged water company. This is at a very nascent stage.
With inputs from PTI
