HCCB is one of the top FMCG companies in India, bringing some of the best-known beverages to the market, including Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Maaza, Minute Maid and more. They have proved themselves, over the course of time, to be ever ready and capable of quenching an entire nation’s thirst.
From their flagship brand, Coca-Cola, they have gone on to make a lot of progress in the field of beverages. From a fruit juice like Minute Maid that incorporates some interesting breakthroughs, to a mango juice like Maaza, which has seen HCCB be one of the world’s largest institutional buyers of mango pulp, they have always promoted a fruit circular economy.
They also have done a considerable deal of work in the field of corporate social responsibility. HCCB is one company which takes the social responsibility of business very seriously. From multiple interventions that include adoption of villages, improving the overall quality of life of its residents, groundwater recharge projects, among others.
Be it through bringing quality products, or in being harbingers of innovation, HCCB has always stayed one step ahead of the rest. Here’s to the great achievements they have accomplished in the two decades since their incorporation in India, and the many more to come.
FMCG company in India
As one of the largest FMCG companies in India, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) creates some of the most popular drinks. Coca-cola, Minute Maid, Maaza and Sprite are household names in India. Over 1000 drinks are manufactured and sold. The competitive market of FMCG companies in India requires that a maximum number of drinks be manufactured to meet the market needs.
For HCCB, the big challenge is meeting those targets and yet ensuring quality for every product that comes off the manufacturing line.
Here’s how they do it.
Bottle Inspection
Along with human inspectors and an electronic bottle inspection technology, bottles are inspected for damage and foreign matter. Bottles that are damaged or dirty are taken out of the manufacturing line.
Filled Bottle Inspection
An inspection is conducted when the bottle is filled. HCCB’s filled bottle inspection technology checks the net content of the bottle and ensures uniformity in height. It also checks the cap, making certain it is placed correctly.
COBRIX Analyser
Sugar and carbon dioxide are necessary ingredients in many of the beverages made by HCCB. The COBRIX analyser does two jobs:
- Certifying that sugar and CO2 levels are maintained within specified levels.
- Establishing that the quality of sugar and CO2 levels are the same in all the bottles packaged.
Flow Diverter
The Flow Diverter Valve pasteurises the juice at a pre-set temperature. If the juice goes below the set temperature, it is not out to the filler; rather the juice is re-pasteurisation. This is a key element in setting a standard quality for the juice.
Interlocks
A standard practise of FMCG companies in India is to set the manufacturing line in stages. HCCB does things differently by setting interlocks through the manufacturing line. If at any stage, the quality criteria are not met, the interlocks are applied and that processed is paused.
Much of these steps are taken with virtually no human assistance and are run completely by machines. Advanced technology plays a key role in maintaining the quality on HCCB manufacturing lines.
Sustainable development in India
Sustainable development in India is a concept where the nation can grow and develop, with a low carbon footprint. A nation that develops will have some pollution. However, by taking sustainable action, a country can reduce its pollution. This, in turn, will result in people living in a more habitable world.
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages takes sustainable development in India very seriously. It is more than just protecting the environment and creating a low carbon footprint. It is also about ensuring local communities thrive and are not affected by pollution.
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages has taken action through several initiatives.
Making 100% LED Factories
A single LED bulb has as much as 80% energy efficiency in comparison to incandescent bulbs. HCCB is in the process of making its factories light-up with LED lights. Seven HCCB factories across India have already been made 100% LED. The transformation is helping the Jammu factory save as much as 37,500 KWH/annum and reduce carbon emission by 30,000 kg/annum.
Taking Action on World Environment Day
HCCB utilized World Environment Day to create awareness in the community about environmental conservation. In certain places like Khurdha, Vijayawada and Siliguri, the HCCB team went out on a Green Walk with signs and banners. One team even enacted a skit.
Reducing Water Consumption
Water is a precious commodity for many local communities that HCCB is a part of. HCCB has taken extensive steps to use less water and maximise its water usage. Every HCCB factory is equipped with an effluent treatment plant to recycle water.
Managing Plastic Waste
HCCB has created a circular economy on plastic. Tying up with various government organisations and NGOs, recollection drives are conducted in various cities regularly. And partnering up with recycling companies, HCCB ensures that plastic bottles are recycled and used again.
As the nation grows, sustainable development in India is crucial. For a company that sees the customer as king, taking care of local communities is important.
