Coca-Cola Company shows strength in sales, despite slowing consumer demand

ATLANTA Despite a 3 percent sales decline in the soft drinks category this past quarter, Coca-Cola seems to be strongly resisting the slowing consumer demand. Coca-Cola’s chief executive announced yesterday that he was confident the company would overcome the problems of the changing economy and gain market share.

The beverage-manufacturing conglomerate is showing strength because of its international support, as well as its consistent sales of its semi-recent Coke Zero drink. North American sales, which make up 30 percent of Coke’s total revenues, showed a decline of 2 percent in the volumes of cases sold. However, case sales are up 18 percent in India, 17 percent in China and 7 percent in Brazil and Mexico, helping the company’s overall sales volume to increase by 5 percent.  

“There are going to be areas of the world that will be growing less,” said Muhtar Kent, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Company. “But despite the volatility, we are in the best consumer business there is, with tremendous resilience if we take the right actions. And we will take the right actions.”