Coca-Cola India Strengthens Odisha’s Retail Ecosystem Through Training and Infrastructure Support

New Delhi, 20 August 2025 - Coca-Cola India along with its bottling partner Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd(HCCB) is accelerating retail growth in Odisha by empowering local shop owners with modern skills, upgraded infrastructure, and pathways to expand their businesses. The initiative blends capacity building with on-ground support, ensuring both retailers and consumers benefit from a stronger, more connected marketplace.

Central to this effort is the Super Power Retailer Program, run in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) which trains small and micro retailers, particularly Kirana store owners in customer engagement, inventory planning, and financial management. Conducted in local languages through classroom sessions in Odisha and via an online certification program nationwide, the initiative has already enabled over 21000 retailers to cater to consumer preferences and market dynamics.

For local retailer Gayatri Senapati, this has meant more than just business growth. She said, “I have been selling Coca-Cola products for eleven years. A lot of people come and order Thums Up, Sprite and Coca-Cola, our display attracts people. It makes us proud.”

Karan Achpal, Vice President - Franchise Operations, Developing Markets, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia,

“Strengthening the retail ecosystem in key markets like Odisha is a cornerstone of Coca-Cola’s growth strategy in India. By integrating capability-building initiatives with robust infrastructure support, we are not only empowering retailers to meet evolving consumer needs but also reinforcing our distribution network. This approach drives sustainable growth for retailers, ensuring they thrive while delivering enriching experiences to consumers.”

Vinay Nair, Chief Commercial Officer at Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. (HCCB) said, “We see retail development as a shared opportunity for economic progress and stronger communities. Our work in Odisha goes beyond supplying beverages, it’s about partnering with local retailers to build their capabilities and help them serve consumers better. By combining on-ground support with targeted skills training, we are enabling these businesses to grow sustainably and contribute to the state’s economic fabric."

Coca-Cola India’s long-standing partnership model strengthens local distribution and service. “We have been working with Coca-Cola since 2002, and it has been a rewarding journey of over two decades. Our partnership with Coca-Cola continues to grow stronger. The team at Coca-Cola India is incredibly supportive, and their guidance has played a big role in our success," said Ajay Saha, local distributor.

Beyond training, Coca-Cola India is enhancing retail infrastructure by providing coolers to outlets and high-footfall locations, ensuring year-round access to chilled beverages. Rajesh Kumar Rana, owner of a sweets shop in Odisha said, “We’ve been running this shop for over 25 years, and Coca-Cola has become a big part of our journey. Ours is a traditional sweet shop where we also keep chilled beverages like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Thums Up and water. Whatever visitors need, we make sure it’s there.”

Additionally, during Odisha’s biggest cultural celebration, Ratha Yatra, the company deployed carts managed by local vendors, including women entrepreneurs, generating direct income and extending retail reach during the festival season.

About Coca-Cola India

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of high-quality and refreshing beverage options to consumers. The company, in line with its vision of ‘Beverages For Life’ offers a wide portfolio of products which includes hydration, sports, sparkling, coffee, tea, nutrition, juice and dairy based products. In India its beverage range includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up XForce, Charged, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Kinley Soda, Rim Zim, Maaza, Minute Maid range of juices and Honest Tea. The Company also offers hydration beverages including Limca GlucoCharge, Smartwater, Kinley, Kinley Copper, Dasani and Bonaqua packaged drinking water. Premium products constitute Schweppes’ range and Smartwater. In addition, it offers a Costa Coffee range of tea and coffee. The Company is constantly transforming its portfolio, from reducing sugar in its drinks to bringing innovative new products to market.

The Company along with its owned bottling operations and franchise bottling partners has a strong network of close to 5 million retail outlets through which it refreshes millions of consumers across the country. It seeks to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water and packaging initiatives, sustainable agriculture and emission reductions across its value chain.

Globally together with its bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, helping to bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.cocacolacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.