NEW DELHI: Coca-Cola is downing shutters of its biggest analytics , technical and innovation centre in the country, based in Pune , as part of a restructuring undertaken by the beverages maker to become a leaner organisation.The Eurasia analytical services facility, set up with an investment of Rs 18 crore in 2010 to support operations in India, South Asia, Eastern Europe, Southern Eurasia and the Middle East, was among the US-based firm’s six such centres globally.“Over the past few months, you have been witnessing our organisation’s strategy getting repurposed and restructuring businesses across the world. In light of the same, the company has decided to consolidate lab facilities across the world and as a result, we plan to cease operations at the Pirangut, Pune lab location by December 2017,” an internal email circulated to senior employees said. ET has seen a copy of the email.A Coca-Cola India spokesperson confirmed the move.“This is subsequent to our announcement in February 2017 to design a new operating model that supports our growth strategy as we transform our business into a true total beverage company,” the spokesperson said.“For the work the lab in Pune is doing today, the company will fulfil the majority of its analytical needs by using labs at its bottling operations and by leveraging third-party accredited analytical labs in India. Additional support for the Indian operations will also be provided from other laboratories of the company.”The company will provide compensation for all the impacted resources as per its policy and in adherence to local laws, he said.The email also said all impacted employees at the centre will be “appropriately compensated”. The decision to close the centre was made as part of a comprehensive review to reshape and restructure businesses across the world, it added.The centre was created as a ‘world class facility’ to offer analytical and technical support, and provide capabilities to enhance quality and food safety standards, drive innovation and enable Coca-Cola’s long-term strategic growth objectives as defined in the 2020 Vision, the company had said at the time of its debut.The five other countries with similar facilities are Belgium China , South Africa, Mexico and the US.India is the beverage maker’s sixth largest market.

Source: Economic Times June 27, 2017 19:41 UTC