Cola drink manufacturers, Coca Cola and PepsiCo have started new strategies of increasing the prices of the carbonated water just before summer to rake up maximum profits in the season where the sales are highest. They have also come up with non-standard packs to make sure that the lower margins on the sales of the soft drinks won't affect them.
A few Coca Cola products are now costlier by 3-7% a few months after Pepsi had already introduced such a pricing range in its drinks. PepsiCo mentioned that its strategy had several influencing factors like input costs, inflation, consumer needs and other market dynamics.
Limca, Coca-Cola and Thums Up have more non-standard packaging to combat the margins. Also, they have been selling a few sizes to Kirana and General stores to ensure that big markets such as supermarts don't prey on their sales. Maaza sales are expected to go very high this summer as always and to improve the sales even further, it Coca Cola has offered double the incentive it offered last year for the fruit-based Maaza. Diet Coke is costlier by Rs 3, since half a year.
All these strategies apart, the decisive factor of the customers has put down the sales of the soft drinks greatly.
(AW- Anil)
