Coca-Cola stabilizes sales in Romania after nine months

Coca-Cola managed to reduce its sales decline in Romania in the third quarter this year, thanks to growth on the sparkling beverages segment, as well as to growth on the overall non-alcoholic beverages market, according to a group report, quoted by local Mediafax. It was for the second consecutive quarter that sales in Romania improved, and only in the end of the third quarter they declined marginally. The drop slowed down to 5% in the first nine months. Last year, the decline was of 15% in the third quarter. Fanta, Sprite and Coca-Cola Zero helped increase volumes by 1%. Coca-Cola Zero event went up by 11% year-on-year. While sales were down, the sold volumes went up on all segments, said the company. Coca-Cola HBC has three factories in Romania, in Ploiesti, Timisoara and Vatra Dornei, as well as 14 distribution centers. Coca-Cola HBC had a turnover of EUR 404 million, in 2013, down by 7.8% compared to 2012, and almost halved its net profit, to EUR 18.6 million. The company has more than 1,600 employees. editor@romania-insider.com