Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced an investment of A$105.5m ($69.2m) to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Australia.
The investment will fund a new warmfill line at the Moorabbin plant in Victoria, marking the largest single contribution to the company's Australian manufacturing network.
This move is set to bolster the production of Powerade and Fuze Tea, catering to the growing demand for sports drinks and no-sugar variants.
Construction of the new warmfill line will include a 4,200 square-metre manufacturing hall and a high-speed 640 bottles per minute Nitro-Warmfill line. The new line will be able to produce up to 17.8 million unit cases annually.
It will also involve significant upgrades to existing infrastructure such as water treatment and electrical systems.
The upgrade will be part of the existing manufacturing facility at Moorabbin and enhance the capacity of the warmfill network, allowing for more efficient distribution across Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
CCEP Australia managing director Orlando Rodriguez said: “By installing a new line in Moorabbin (VIC), we will be able to increase the capacity of the warmfill network in Australia and continue to distribute more of our great products locally.
“Our commitment to supporting growth within the sports category is integral to our overall expansion goals, underlining our steadfast belief in this sector. CCEP remains dedicated to continual business investment to increase capacity and enhance efficiency while maintaining a sustainable operation, in line with our growth ambitions.”
The investment is expected to reduce annual transportation by 2.9 million kilometres, cutting down carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 3,785 tonnes.
Local builder Vaughan Constructions will begin work this month, with the full site expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
In September last year, CCEP announced an investment of £31m ($37.87m) at its soft drinks manufacturing facility in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK.
In the Coca-Cola bottler’s recent first-half results, its Australia, Pacific and Southeast Asia (APS) market grew its volumes 80.9% to 586 million unit-cases, while revenues jumped 36.2% to €2.54bn ($2.77bn).
