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“We are confident of touching ?10,000 cr very soon”
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Monday, 12 January, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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 When Coca-Cola re-entered India, history was quietly written in a factory in Uttar Pradesh. On October 24, 1992, the country’s first Coke bottle rolled out of what is today known as SLMG Beverages, a company that has since grown into India’s largest independent bottler for Coca-Cola and one of the top 15 Coca-Cola bottlers globally. In an exclusive interview with Manjushree Naik, Paritosh Ladhani, joint MD, SLMG Beverages, spoke about this remarkable journey, reflecting on scale, discipline, sustainability, and why Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are at the heart of India’s consumption story. Excerpts:
Your company is recognised as the largest independent bottler for Coca-Cola Company in South West Asia. Give us details.
It is a matter of immense pride for us. Not many people know that India’s first Coke bottle after Coca-Cola’s comeback in 1992 was bottled at our Hathras plant. That moment laid the foundation for what SLMG Beverages has become today. Currently, we contribute around 22 per cent of Coca-Cola India’s total volume. What is even more satisfying is the pace of our growth. From a contribution of about 9 per cent in 2019, we have grown phenomenally over the last five years to reach this level. Today, we are not only the largest independent Indian bottler, but also a globally respected Coca-Cola partner.
Last couple of years, the company has grown rapidly by making inroads into important territories such as Bihar. Explain.
 The core philosophy of our founders has always been very clear grow faster than the industry. Our late chairman and the founding leadership believed that if the industry grows at 10 per cent, we must grow at 20 or 30 per cent, and sometimes even 40–50 per cent. Four brothers founded the group. Our mantra has always been to grow more than the competitor. It comes from deep market understanding, discipline, and execution excellence. When we entered Bihar, we simply replicated what had worked well for us in Uttar Pradesh - strong distribution, sharp market execution, listening closely to retailers and consumers, and empowering our teams on the ground. Our leadership believes in leading by example. Even today, senior leaders are the first to reach the office and the first to be in the market. This culture creates motivation across the organisation and ensures that customer feedback remains our biggest driver.
From producing the first bottle after Coca-Cola re-entered India to being counted among the top 15 bottlers for Coca-Cola globally, the company has come a long way. Give us details.
It is not just a proud moment for SLMG Beverages, but also for India. An independent Indian bottler being counted among the world’s top 15 Coca-Cola bottlers is a powerful statement about India’s entrepreneurial strength.I still remember attending global bottler conferences and seeing India emerge with confidence on the world stage. That said, we are not stopping here. Our aspiration is very clear top 10 first, and eventually top 5 globally.
SLMG Beverages is the flagship firm. What other allied businesses is the group into?
While beverages remain our core, the Ladhani Group has diversified into several allied sectors including hospitality, real estate development, malls, residential projects, and ice cream. In hospitality, we operate marquee properties such as Taj Agra, Hilton Lucknow, and upcoming premium hotels in Goa and Gwalior. Across businesses, our guiding principle remains the same — family working like professionals, and professionals treated like family.
The company plans to invest Rs 8,000–10,000 crore. How will this help in expansion?
India is a supply-driven consumption market. The more you invest, the more you grow. If you don’t invest, growth becomes single digit. Our investments are focused on capacity expansion, new plants, distribution reach, and new product categories. We aim to be present in every village of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar over the next few years. Introduce products for all strata of society. That requires infrastructure, cold chains, logistics and manufacturing capacity. We are strengthening all segments sparkling beverages (Coke, ThumsUp, Sprite), juices (Maaza, Minute Maid), hydration and value-added drinks. Several exciting products are in the pipeline across price points and consumer segments.
Tell us about the sustainability practices in regard to groundwater and so on that the company undertakes.
We are extremely proud of the fact that we have been groundwater positive since 2008. For over 17 years, we have consistently harvested more than 170 per cent of the water we consume. Our belief is simple — what is good for the community is good for business. We work closely with government bodies on water conservation projects and community initiatives. Sustainability for us is not a recent trend; it has always been part of our DNA.
Give us details on the MES, EHS and other tech that the company uses?
We are in the process of implementing advanced MES, EHS and traceability systems. Soon, we will be able to track every product right down to the ingredients used. We are also leveraging AI-based safety and surveillance systems at our plants. These systems help predict and prevent safety incidents before they occur. Technology, in our view, is not about replacing people — it is about making workplaces safer and operations more efficient.
Tell us about the awards and certification that the company is known for.
They are important because they validate the hard work of our teams. The list is long — Gatee Award Winners in INSWA: Kursi Road & Chhata, QSE INSWA Ranking - 5 plants in Top 7 and Vision Zero Award in Health and Safety to Kursi plant.
The company has set its sights on Rs 10,000 crore turnover this fiscal. Comment?
We have already crossed ?8,000 crore, and we are confident of touching ?10,000 crore very soon. This is not a one-time milestone; it is part of a long-term growth trajectory.
Our CAGR over the last decade has been consistently strong. Looking ahead, we see ?15,000 crore by 2029 and ?20,000 crore by 2031 as realistic targets.
How big is the non-alcoholic beverage market and at what rate it is growing?
India’s non-alcoholic beverage market continues to grow in double digits, driven by rising incomes and low per capita consumption. The market is projected to reach US$68.73 billion by 2033 growing at the rate of 8.2%, according to IMARC. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the growth engines of India, and we firmly believe in this story.
Any new product launches, acquisitions and so on in the pipeline?
Yes, several. We have recently launched new hydration and electrolyte-based drinks, and a few energy and wellness-focused beverages are in the pipeline. These products are designed to be affordable, accessible and relevant for Indian consumers.
SLMG’s Trishundi plant The Trishundi plant in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, is a major manufacturing unit of the company, featuring eight modern, automated production lines. Most of the machinery has been sourced from Germany, Italy and China. With a production capacity of 3,800 bottles per minute, the facility employs around 900 people and is engaged in bottling juices, sparkling beverages, energy drinks and water.
The plant adheres to stringent quality, safety and operational standards and plays a significant role in meeting beverage demand across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It also underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability and local development through efficient resource utilisation and employment generation for surrounding communities, contributing to the region’s overall socio-economic growth.
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