It is India’s most popular cola, commanding over 40 per cent of a market estimated at $700m. It’s bigger than Coke or Pepsi but, odds are, you’ve never heard of it.

It’s called Thums Up (the missing “b” is not a typo) and Coca-Cola’s announcement on Tuesday that it would invest an additional $3bn in India over the coming eight years should mean Indians will see even more of it. But Coke has had a complicated relationship with Thums Up since it bought it in 1993. Continue reading »

That’s two in a row. Coca-Cola, the world’s largest soft drinks maker, announced on Tuesday a total investment of $5bn in India by 2020, just days after Ikea, the Swedish furniture retailer, reaffirmed its long-term commitment to an economically beleaguered country in need of some good news.

Coke’s commitment – which adds $3bn to $2bn already earmarked – is a reminder that India’s huge market, rising incomes and favourable demographics remain attractive, in spite of serial failure by the government to enact pro-growth reforms and a slew of negative economic data. Continue reading »