US soft-drink giant Coca-Cola launched its first dairy drink in Shanghai on Monday as it expanded its presence into the Chinese milk beverage market, the Beijing News reports.
The domestically-produced new product, Minute Maid Pulpy Super Milky drink, a mixture of fruit juice, milk powder and coconut bits, has entered the market in Beijing, Guangdong province and Zhejiang province amongst others. It is estimated that by the end of this year the dairy drink will be sold in 300 cities across China, said the company.
The milk content of the drink is currently imported from New Zealand, however, the possibility of the drinks giant cooperating with domestic dairy enterprises has not been ruled out, according to Coca-Cola China.
Insiders say that Coca-Cola's launch of the new product is a signal of its efforts to explore the new growth engine in China's non-sparkling beverage market. Additionally, China's milk beverage industry is considered by some to be the next hot spot for soft-drink giants.
Earlier this year, Coca-Cola's $2.4 billion bid to buy Huiyuan, China's biggest juice maker, was rejected by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in accordance with Anti-Monopoly laws.
The domestically-produced new product, Minute Maid Pulpy Super Milky drink, a mixture of fruit juice, milk powder and coconut bits, has entered the market in Beijing, Guangdong province and Zhejiang province amongst others. It is estimated that by the end of this year the dairy drink will be sold in 300 cities across China, said the company.
The milk content of the drink is currently imported from New Zealand, however, the possibility of the drinks giant cooperating with domestic dairy enterprises has not been ruled out, according to Coca-Cola China.
Insiders say that Coca-Cola's launch of the new product is a signal of its efforts to explore the new growth engine in China's non-sparkling beverage market. Additionally, China's milk beverage industry is considered by some to be the next hot spot for soft-drink giants.
Earlier this year, Coca-Cola's $2.4 billion bid to buy Huiyuan, China's biggest juice maker, was rejected by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in accordance with Anti-Monopoly laws.
