The Coca-Cola Company Reports Full-Year and FourthQuarter 2011 Results

Feb 8 2012 ---The Coca-Cola Company today reports strong full-year and fourthquarter 2011 operating results, once again meeting or exceeding its long-term growth targets and gaining full-year volume and value share in total nonalcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages as well as in both sparkling and still beverages. The Company's strong 2011 performance, combined with its optimized and advantaged system, positions it well to deliver long-term, sustainable growth.

 

Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, said, "Today, I am pleased to share that The Coca-Cola Company continues its momentum toward realizing their2020 Vision, with stronger brands, clear strategies and well-focused execution to drive further growth. We once again achieved financial results for both the year and the quarter in line with, or ahead of, theirlong-term targets, with quarterly volume and revenue growth in every one of theirfive geographic operating groups. Importantly, we also continued to increase theirglobal volume and value share in 2011.”

 

The Coca-Cola Company reported worldwide volume growth of 5% for the full year and 3% during the quarter. Excluding new cross-licensed brands in North America, primarily Dr Pepper brands (which the Company began distributing Oct. 2, 2010), worldwide volume grew 4% for the full year, at the high end of theirlong-term growth target. Volume growth for the full year was well-balanced across the globe, with solid growth in key developed markets like North America, Japan and Germany and double-digit growth in key emerging markets like India and China. In addition, solid growth continued in countries with per capita consumption of Company brands less than 150 eight-ounce servings per year, with volume up 6% for the full year and 4% in the quarter. For both the full year and the quarter, They grew global volume and value share in NARTD beverages, with volume and value share gains across most beverage categories. Further, theirimmediate consumption beverages were up 4% globally in 2011, driven by focused in-store activation efforts and cold drink equipment expansion.

 

Coca-Cola continued to see growth in sparkling beverages, with gains in global volume and value share for the full year and in the quarter. This growth was driven by theircontinued focus on and investment in theirbrands, starting with brand Coca-Cola. Brand Coca-Cola volume grew 3% in both the full year and the quarter, with strong growth in the fourthquarter in a number of markets around the world, including 33% in Thailand, 15% in India, 13% in China, 12% in Argentina, 9% in Germany, 8% in Russia, 4% in both Mexico and France, and 3% in Japan. Worldwide sparkling beverage volume grew 2% in the quarter, with international sparkling beverage volume up 3% as they continue to focus on innovative, globally scaled marketing campaigns. For the full year, worldwide sparkling beverage volume grew 4%, with new cross-licensed brands in North America, primarily Dr Pepper brands, contributing one percentage point of this growth.

 

Worldwide still beverage volume grew 8% for the full year and 6% in the quarter, led by growth across the portfolio, including ready-to-drink teas, juices and juice drinks, energy drinks and water brands. International still beverage volume grew 10% for the full year and 7% in the quarter, and North America still beverage volume grew 4% for the full year and 3% in the quarter. They grew global still beverage volume and value share for the full year. In the quarter, They grew global still beverage volume share and successfully held value share as consumers continue to experience macroeconomic volatility. Minute Maid Pulpy continues to expand globally, with 20% volume growth in 2011. Energy drinks volume grew 19% in the quarter with broad distribution of theirBurn energy brand, which is now available in nearly 80 countries. Water volume grew 7% in the quarter as they continue to focus on innovative and sustainable immediate consumption packaging like their PlantBottle in North America, which is driving new customer listings, and theirI LOHAS/Ecoflex lightweight crushable bottle for water brands in Asia and Latin America. Packaging innovations like these underscore theircommitment to ensure the long-term sustainability of theirpackaged water business and theirfocus on reducing theircarbon footprint.