Mexico City, Mexico
August 20, 2009
As prepared for delivery
President Calderon... Distinguished Guests and Friends... It is my pleasure to welcome you to our home, your home. Bienvenido a su casa!
We are honored that you could join us here in our new Jugos del Valle plant. On behalf of The
Today marks the completion of the first phase of a grand vision that started taking shape two years ago. That's when The
Today's opening is the result of a $200 million USD investment, further evidence of our long-term commitment to Mexico's economic development and the health of this nation's communities and 110 million citizens. This is also part of a 5-year master plan of infrastructural and community sustainability developments that we have made across Mexico. These investments have totaled $4.5 billion USD -- and $700 million USD in 2009.
This new Jugos del Valle plant comes with a host of leading-edge and environmentally-friendly technologies that leave a positive footprint on the planet. At the same, it's creating over 1,500 direct jobs, and supporting over 300,000 indirect jobs within our juice supply chain.
This means that the
Jugos del Valle is special for a number of reasons. It has the longest history of any juice company in Mexico, dating back to 1947. Its brands are entrenched in the hearts and minds of Mexican consumers. It is also the second-largest consumer of Mexican fruit, with over 66,000 tons purchased last year from farmers in 9 Mexican states.
This plant is joined by two other production facilities in Mexico -- one in Monterrey and one in Zacatecas. All total, we now have 26 production lines, with a production capacity of 180 million unit cases.
President Calderon, this investment is the same commitment we talked about earlier this year in Davos, when I had a chance to share with you our plans for the future. We believe this is fully aligned with your vision of bringing new investment and opportunity to Mexico during these trying times.
At
This, of course, is not a new philosophy for us. For the past 83 years, The
Today, we're proud to offer more than 60 brands and 200 products across the nation -- beverages that are aligned with the taste, values and lifestyle expectations of Mexican consumers. Thanks to our bottlers here in Mexico, we have gained deep insights into the values and expectations of consumers across this land.
This local community focus is extremely important to us. As you know, Mexican consumers today are growing more and more conscious about issues of community sustainability and environmental protection.
In fact, a recent survey conducted by National Geographic, shows that Mexican consumers are more likely than most to consider social and environmental factors when making purchasing decisions. At the same time, they are more likely than most to believe that government and industry can have a positive and sustainable impact on the world by working together to provide solutions. In other words, consumers are looking for our leadership.
We've had good success so far in partnering with government, community and NGO leadership in Mexico to advance our water stewardship, sustainable packaging, workplace safety, climate change and active lifestyle and health efforts.
President Calderon, you may also recall in Davos that we had the chance to discuss
This commitment is also in line with the government's campaign -- Vive Mexico.
The timing of these two philosophies and campaigns coming together is also important. We look forward to celebrating the Bicentennial of this great nation's independence next year and see this as fantastic opportunity to recognize and promote all that is positive, sustainable and inspirational about Mexico.
Thank you again, Mr. President -- and thanks to all of you for your presence with us today.
Here's to a great future together.
I don't mind your product being bottled in another country BUT I want what I drink to be bottled in the USA. The store near me has a sign on the window that the Coca Cola was bottled and made in Mexico. I don't buy that product anymore.
If you can not make, pay USA workers and sell your product in America I won't purchase it.
Thank you for your time to read this.
Betty Burnell
Thank you for your comment. At Coca-Cola, we bottle our products locally in 206 countries around the world where we conduct business. Almost all Coca-Cola products sold in the United States are made, marketed and distributed here by our nearly 70,000 U.S.-based employees. Globally, we employ local employees and and bottling operations in the countries where we do business. Coca-Cola bottled in Mexico can be found in the U.S. in select specialty stores as an added option for our customers, but is not a core product offering in the United States.
Does Coca-Cola actually own bottling plants or is all bottling, canning, and such done by other companies?
At Coca-Cola, we bottle our products locally in 206 countries around the world where we conduct business. In some cases, we own the bottler, while in other cases they are independently owned and operated. Each bottling facility is required to adhere to strict quality standards.
About the glass coke bottled in Mexico..I love it. I get migraines and the "glass coke" takes care of it. I don't like the taste of the coke made with corn syrup. Problem is, it's only brought into Ft Wayne during holidays. So we're now stocking up and it's $1.. per bottle. This drives my husband nuts. It should be available year round for those how are carrying it (Wal mart for us in Fort Wayne IN) so please, get the coke with sugar up here, I wished we made it here in the states, it's an american product, I'd like to buy it here but I like this product, it has a more crisp taste, there's no wicked after taste like there is with the corn syrup coke, so please, bring on the glass coke, put a white cap on it so the proceeds go to the polar bears!!