Coca-Cola’s Bottling Partners Bolster India’s Logistics Network with Fleet, EV Expansion, and Welfare Push
CHENNAI,
August 25th, 2025: Coca-Cola,
along with its bottling partners, is redefining green logistics by expanding
one of the nation’s largest truck fleets, featuring over 5,000 EVs nationwide. This strategic investment not
only delivers refreshment to every corner of India but also fuels job creation
and underscores a commitment to operational excellence and social impact.
Nationwide Fleet Expansion Powers
Growth and Opportunity
Coca-Cola’s products traverse several
hundred kilometers daily, reaching both
urban and rural markets efficiently. This vast distribution network relies on a
dedicated workforce of thousands of truck drivers, whose roles are pivotal in
ensuring the timely delivery of beverages across the country. The ongoing expansion
of the logistics fleet directly translates into stable employment
opportunities, reinforcing Coca-Cola’s position as a significant contributor to
India’s supply chain workforce.
Bottling
Partners Accelerate Innovation and Impact
Superior Drinks Pvt. Ltd., a key Coca-Cola bottler, has
bolstered its fleet with close to 200 state-of-the-art trucks and EVs added
this year. This move has significantly increased
distribution capacity and quality from plant to shelf. Meanwhile, SLMG Beverages, another major bottling partner
within the system, has scaled up its electric vehicle fleet adding over 3000
EVs in the last three years to support last-mile delivery. Hindustan Coca-Cola
Beverages (HCCB) has also strengthened the network by deploying approximately
500 EVs across 10 states, improving regional coverage and operational
efficiency. Collectively, the scale of the bottling partners’ fleets is only
expected to rise in the years ahead.
Championing
Driver Welfare and Road Safety
In addition to workforce growth, Coca-Cola
emphasizes driver welfare through a comprehensive program that includes annual
road safety trainings, tailored for India’s diverse road conditions, regular
medical and vision check-ups, and wellness seminars focused on road safety and
stress management. Additionally, each vehicle is routinely assessed to meet
operational standards. These initiatives aim to enhance driver safety and
health, reduce operational risks, and improve overall job satisfaction.
Sundeep Bajoria, Vice President,
Coca-Cola India said, “India’s logistics landscape
is evolving and we’re evolving with it, responsibly. Our trucking ecosystem is
a living engine of economic opportunity and impact-led progress. It creates livelihood opportunities across states, fuels
micro-economies in transport hubs, and ensures that our beverages reach every
lane and locality, from metro cities to rural kirana stores. As we scale our
capabilities, we remain equally focused on enabling the people who power this
network with safety, skill-building, and support.”
Vinay Nair, Chief Commercial Officer, Hindustan Coca-Cola
Beverages Pvt. Ltd. said, “At
HCCB, we're constantly evolving to meet the dynamic demands of India’s beverage
landscape. Fleet augmentation not only strengthens our last-mile deliveries but
also reinforces our commitment to agile, tech-enabled supply chain solutions
that serve our retailers faster and better, while contributing to the local
economies."
Ashish
Sethi, CEO Superior Drinks Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our
focus has always been on operational precision and market readiness. With this
fleet expansion, we’re building a delivery powerhouse that delivers unmatched
speed, scale, and reliability. We’re setting new standards in execution to keep
pace with one of the world’s most demanding supply chains.”
Rahul
Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SLMG said, “Expanding our EV fleet is a deliberate move to improve delivery speed
and capacity in line with the Coca-Cola system’s growth objectives. This
investment strengthens our ability to meet increasing consumer demand, especially
in rural markets, with improved cost-to-serve.”
As Coca-Cola’s products journey across the
country, every kilometer represents not just refreshment for consumers, but
also new opportunities, livelihoods, and growth for countless Indians. By
integrating a growing driver workforce with comprehensive welfare support, the
company contributes to socioeconomic development in India, providing meaningful
employment and fostering community wellbeing across regions.