Hong Kong Coke Bottler Sees Major Shifts In Beverage Preferences In China

A Hong Kong-based beverage distributor and Coca-Cola bottler says Chinese consumers are incorporating concerns about health into their drinks purchases. Patrick Healy of Swire Beverages says Chinese beverage buyers are turning their noses up at classic sugary sodas like Coca-Cola and Fanta, instead buying premium bottled water and energy drinks. Healy says the trend began several years ago. Now traditional categories are seeing single-digit growth, compared to double-digit growth for the new categories. Industry observers say low sugar or sugar-free, and low calorie drinks will be the dominant trend in China. Swire has been a business partner with Coca-Cola since 1965, and is one of two major bottling partners of Coca-Cola China, along with state-owned China Foods.