At least four per cent of the about 5,000-strong workforce at the bottling arm of Coca-Cola India will be laid off. Yes, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) is letting go 300 employees across departments, including supply chain, sales, distribution and operations. The objective is to try and operate in a simpler manner even while aiming for better margins across HCCB’s 15 factories in the country, responsible for the bottling and distribution of Thums Up, Sprite, Coca-Cola and so on.
Over the last 12 months, HCCB has withdrawn operations in states such as Bihar, Rajasthan, and parts of West Bengal, with these areas now being taken over by franchises.
The job cuts are not really big enough in scale to cause any disruption, the company has reportedly claimed. The headcount reduction is being called the result of routine reviews undertaken periodically to ensure that the company remains resilient amidst stiff competition.
In 2025, HCCB reported poor financial performance with a 73 per cent dip in net profits to Rs 756.64 crore. Operational revenue is also reported to have fallen nine per cent.
Earlier this year, in September, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa had cut at least 600 jobs. The planned retrenchments had only added to South Africa’s growing unemployment crisis, among the highest globally. The cuts had come at a time when major employers including Ford Motor Co., Glencore Plc, and ArcelorMittal SA had also announced layoffs.