Pepsi unit opens new plant, hikes capacity in PH

Beverage-maker Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) has expanded its production capacity with the inauguration of a P1.1-billion facility in Santo Tomas, Batangas, its 12th manufacturing hub in the country.

Spanning over seven hectares, the facility is initially operating two new bottling lines, serving more than 40,000 outlets in Southern Luzon.

“Our new plant represents our renewed commitment in bringing everyday refreshment to the people of the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) and Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) region,” Jika Dalupan, PCPPI vice president for corporate affairs and communications, said in a statement.

“We are excited about the employment and livelihood opportunities that this expansion will bring to local communities,” Dalupan said.

In the third quarter, PCPPI grew its net profit by 13 percent year-on-year to P138.95 million on the back of a 17-percent growth in volume.

“We are pleased to have sustained our strong growth momentum in the third quarter. This was achieved by bringing in more exciting consumer offerings for our Filipino consumers, building our distribution footprint and sustaining our investments in operating capability development”, said PCPPI president Furqan Ahmed Syed.

For the nine-month ending in September, however, net profit fell by 20.7 percent to P619.39 million as a result of higher depreciation and amortization alongside the damage caused by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on its plant in Tanauan, Leyte.

Citing strong demand across major categories and geographies, PCPPI said gross sales were up by 19 percent in the third quarter quarter and by 13 percent in the nine-month period, reaching P22 billion. Volume for the nine-month period grew by 12 percent year-on-year.

Gross profit was up by 17 percent for the quarter and 4 percent for the nine-month period, amounting to P4.6 billion. Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were at par with year-ago level. Doris C. Dumlao