Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the India-based packaging subsidiary of Coca-Cola, is reportedly planning to reduce its workforce by about 300 employees across sales, supply chain, distribution and plant bottling operations. This move comes as part of a strategic effort to improve profitability and streamline operations.
The move is expected to affect about 4-6% of the total workforce of the company, which currently has about 5,000 employees.
The company, which operates 15 manufacturing units across India producing brands such as Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Minute Maid and Kinley water, has described the move as relatively small in scale and not expected to disrupt everyday operations, according to an Economic Times report.
The job cut comes against the backdrop of a challenging financial year, as reported by HCCB, which saw a steep 73% decline in net profit to Rs. 756.64 Crore in FY25, while revenue from operations fell by 9% to Rs. 12,751.29 Cr, according to regulatory filings.
Unseasonal and heavy rains during the March–September period, typically the peak season for soft drink consumption, also dampened demand, further impacting sales volumes.
The restructuring follows a leadership transition earlier this year, with Hemant Rupani, formerly of Mondelez International, taking over as HCCB’s chief executive officer. Company officials said periodic reviews of organisational structure are necessary to stay competitive and agile in a fast-changing market.
