Weak quarter for Coca-Cola

The world
versus Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola
was hoping to compensate local setbacks by being active on a global basis, but
now it seems things are bad on all important markets. “This was a
confluence of events”, said CEO Muhtar Kent.

In the US
Coca-Cola is feeling the effects of the war on obesity. In New York for example,
the size of cups containing sugary drinks is limited to 480 cl in bars,
restaurants, movie theatres and sports facilities.

In Europe
and China the economic circumstances are working against Coca-Cola. In Europe sales dropped by 4%, while in China sales rose 4%, but this was mainly because
of the rise in sales of juices and waters. In India sales rose by only one
percent, because the monsoon rains hit unusually soon and very fierce.

Sales and
profits down

Globally
the volume of sodas sold climbed by 1%. Sales however declined: partly because
of fluctuations in the exchange rates, total sales were 3% lower than in the
same period of 2012.

Net profits
were also lower: in the second quarter they were at 2.67 billion dollar or 2
billion euro. That is 4% less than in the same period of 2102. Coca-Cola is
expecting to perform considerably better in the next six months.