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Companies in the News
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International Sales Buoy Coke’s Third-Quarter Growth International sales anchored Coca-Cola Co.’s 5 percent third-quarter growth in unit case volume while the Atlanta-based beverage giant’s sales declined in North America. Unit case volume, an indicator of the strength of beverage sales in particular markets, was down 2 percent in North America compared to the same period last year. The company’s international business units combined to post a 7 percent increase in the same category, leading to net revenue growth of 9 percent and earnings per share of $0.83, a 17 percent jump compared to third quarter 2007. Coke’s leadership saw upswings in places like China, India, Nigeria and Turkey as indicative of the company’s ability to successfully adapt and diversify in tough economic times. “Our international operations, in particular the emerging markets, continue to drive our growth, more than offsetting the challenges that we are addressing in North America,” said Coke President and CEO Muhtar Kent in a statement. The company forecasts the tight market in North America to continue throughout 2009, most likely forcing it to rely further on boosts in sales in less saturated markets. According to the company’s third quarter earnings report, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Korea and Turkey delivered double-digit unit case volume growth. In China, unit case volume increased 17 percent. In third quarter 2008, Coke announced plans to acquire Chinese juice maker Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd. for about $2.4 billion and launched Yuan Ye, a green leaf tea beverage. Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and the regions of Eastern Europe, North and West Africa and the Middle East posted high single-digit growth in unit case volume. For more information or to download the earnings report, click here.
Arris Creates Global Sales Group Suwanee-based television and video software developer Arris Group Inc. has created a global solutions sales group and named a senior vice president to head it. John Boland has been promoted from vice president of sales to oversee the unit, which will focus on the company’s video-on-demand, advertising and content, delivery, network and workforce management products. He will coordinate with two company vice presidents, Bill Leslie of service assurance sales and Tony Ahillas of workforce management sales. Ron Coppock, Arris’ worldwide sales president, said growth in the group’s targeted areas will help expand the company’s reach into new global markets. Arris has eight U.S. offices and locations in Chile, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea and Spain. Visit www.arrisi.com. advertisement
Marietta Packaging Company’s Joint Venture Targets Chinese Beverage Industry Marietta’s Graphic Packaging Holding Co. has formed a joint venture with a Chinese firm through its Japanese subsidiary to provide beverage packaging in the world’s most populous country. The agreement between Graphic Packaging International Japan Ltd. and Hung Hing Printing Group Ltd. in Hong Kong formed a new company that has been operating since September. Graphic Hung Hing Packaging (Shanghai) Co. is based in Shanghai and is providing packaging and packaging machinery to beverage companies across China. Mathew Yum, managing director of Hung Hing, said his company and Graphic Packaging have been working together for more than 10 years, but the new venture focuses specifically on the Chinese food and beverage industry. He said that sector is expanding in tandem with the country’s rapidly growing economy. David Scheible, president and CEO of the Marietta company, agreed that new opportunities are being created in the packaging industry. “The market in China is expected to grow substantially and our long-term strategy includes participating as a leading supplier to our existing customers and further developing a strong customer base there,” he said. Takashi Sugiyama, president of Graphic Packaging Japan, said the companies’ strengths make the partnership beneficial for both. “We appreciate that Hung Hing is a long-established and successful company in China,” he said. “We are excited to combine our unique beverage packaging strengths with Hung Hing’s business expertise and high value printing services to enhance both companies’ strong relationships with global customers.” Visit www.graphicpkg.com/home.html.
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Travelport Consolidates Data Centers in Atlanta Airline reservation company Travelport GDS has consolidated its global data center in Atlanta by moving systems formerly in Denver, Colo., to the Georgia capital. The company, a subsidiary of Parsippany, N.J.-based travel firm Travelport Ltd., has spent $450 million over several years upgrading the Atlanta center’s technology in anticipation of the move. The center now handles online reservations through its Apollo, Galileo and Worldspan software systems. The Denver facility will be used for disaster recovery and co-location. David Lauderdale, Travelport’s chief technology officer and senior vice president, said the move has improved transaction processing times by 21 percent. Travelport GDS is establishing Atlanta as its North American headquarters by consolidating other U.S. locations. The company announced in January that facilities in Rosemont, Ill., Parsippany and Denver into Cobb County offices formerly occupied by Worldspan L.P., a company Travelport acquired in August 2007. The company said at that time the consolidation will retain 325 jobs in the Atlanta area and create 200 more. Combined with a 100-employee expansion of its Hapeville data center, Travelport is investing about $33 million in the consolidation. |
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