Essential News

• The Project will start operations in January 1st, 2020 with an initial investment of US$50 million.

• The plant will have 130 direct collaborators in its first stage and will generate another 100 indirect employees in the region.

Liberia, Guanacaste. July 21, 2018. After 50 years of having settled in Costa Rica, the Coca-Cola Company celebrated, with a ground-breaking ceremony, the construction of a new and modern concentrates plant that will be in Liberia, Guanacaste.

The President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado attended to the event, as well as senior representatives of the company such as Darlene Nicosia, Global Vice President of the Coca-Cola Concentrates Plant; Juan Carlos Laclé, Vice President of Commercial Relations from Latin Centro; Angela Zuluaga, Vice President of Public Affairs from Latin Center; Marc Katz, Coca-Cola´s Concentrates Operations Director; and Kevin Dunleavy, Human Resources Director of Coca-Cola’s Concentrates Plant.

The new operation represents an initial investment of US $ 50 million. The concentrate of Coca-Cola and 89 drinks that are exported to Central America, the Caribbean, Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, will be produced in this operation. Once all these drinks arrive to these countries, the different bottling companies pack them and put them for sale on the market.

The President of the Republic, Carlos Alvarado, highlighted that the new plant will contribute to strengthen this government’s strategy to promote territorial development by generating employment in each region.

He also thanked the company’s decision to expand its presence in the country by constructing this plant, which will significantly impact local economic development.

"We are proud to place, with President Alvarado, the first stone of the construction of the new Coca-Cola concentrates plant because we believe in the growth of opportunities for Costa Rica," said William Segura, Public Affairs Manager and Coca-Cola’s Communications for Central America.

The plant will be in front of the Daniel Oduber Airport, within the Solarium Free Zone. In the initial phase, the construction will have an area of 34,000 m2. The current plant, located in La Uruca, in San José, measures 18,500 m2. The new facilities are expected to begin operations by January 1st, 2020.

The Minister of Foreign Trade, Dyalá Jiménez, also participated in the event, and expressed her pride of how Costa Rica continues to attract investment projects of great importance to the territory.

"We applaud the decision made by Coca-Cola to settle in Guanacaste, because it give us a double reason to celebrate. On one hand, this project will allow the company to expand its productive capacities and its competitive levels in the markets; on the other, it will generate 130 direct jobs in an important region of our country. It will be a great contribution to promote one of the main objectives that this government has: to increase the development opportunities for citizens of the zones outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, with high quality formal jobs. We share this announcement with great pleasure and congratulate Coca-Cola for reaffirming its partnership and its long-term commitment with Costa Rica. We wish it many successes," said the minister.

Currently, Coca-Cola is the leading exporter in the food sector and the third largest exporter of goods in Costa Rica, according to the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer). In 2017, Costa Rica exported $ 10,665 million of goods, 7% more than in 2016. The contribution of Coca-Cola is part of this important data.

"As a company, we continue to grow, and Liberia offers a strategic position for export. With Coca-Cola’s investment, we aim to double exports by 2024,” Segura concluded.

For CINDE, having foreign direct investment outside the Greater Metropolitan Area is one of the organization's primary objectives. "Today, by placing the first stone of this concentrates plant, Coca-Cola defines its arrival to Guanacaste, which also means that it will generate hundreds of quality jobs for its citizens. We are confident that the local human talent will help the company to consolidate its operation and we hope that new jobs can be created in the future, thanks to the business’ development", commented the President of the Board of Directors from CINDE, Luis Gamboa.

As part of the innovations, this new center will use robots to package certain products, it will have different systems to track the materials, as well as it will have systems for monitoring lighting, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. It will also avoid waste and, as part of its contribution to the environment, the building will use solar panels in the parking lots.

In addition, it will have a wastewater treatment and process plant; it will use very little water during the processes and it will be reused.

The Coca-Cola concentrates plant will be environmental friendly, as it is designed to apply for the LEED Silver certification, which is a seal of quality that awards buildings that prove they are sustainable and good with the environment.

Globally, the Coca-Cola Company has 19 concentrates plants in the world, including those located in the United States, Brazil, Ireland and Costa Rica.

Employment for Guanacaste

Guanacaste has a population of 381,000 inhabitants and almost 18,000 people are unemployed. It is estimated that once the plant begins to operate, it will have 130 direct collaborators.

According to CINDE, with Coca-Cola’s arrival, an additional 100 indirect jobs will be created in the region, generating a positive impact on the surrounding communities.

The concentrates plant has a wide diversity of collaborators, among them: manufacturing operators, engineers, microbiologists, industrial chemists, business administrators, accountants, human resources specialists, among others.

Regarding the future of La Uruca’s employees, the company is currently verifying their availability and willingness to relocate to Guanacaste.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO)

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a beverage company whose supply exceeds 500 brands and reaches consumers in more than 200 countries. In addition to Coca-Cola brand beverages, the portfolio includes some of the most valuable beverage brands in the world, such as the beverage made from soy AdeS, green tea Ayataka, Dasani waters, juices and nectars Del Valle, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, sooth smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitamin water, and Zico coconut water. It constantly transforms its portfolio through actions ranging from reducing the amount of sugar in the beverages to the commercialization of new innovative products. It also works to reduce the environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. Together with the bottling partners, Coca-Cola employs more than 700,000 people, providing economic opportunities to local communities around the world. If you want to know more, visit the Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

For more press information

Tania Rodríguez Porras-Imagen y Comunicación Creativa
2283-7101, ext.106/8818-1236, trodriguez@iccasesores.com

Fabiola Domínguez-CINDE
fdominguez@cinde.org, 2201-2824