Brands
Jubiliant Bhartia group develops thirst for Coke’s biggest Indian bottler
MUMBAI: It’s bottling a major partnership with the famous Bhartia brothers – Shyam and Hari. Atlanta-based The Coca -Cola Co today announced that it has reached an agreement with the multibillion dollar, well- diversified Jubilant Bhartia group to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Hindustan Coca -Cola Holdings (HCCH).
HCCH is the parent company of the largest Coca -Cola bottler in India, Hindustan Coca -Cola Beverages (HCCB) which primarily has a presence in the south and west of India.
“The Jubilant Bhartia group will bring invaluable experience and insights to our business as we continue to grow our presence in India,” said The Coca- Cola Co president of international development Henrique Braun. “Jubilant Bhartia Group brings a track record of building and growing consumer and other businesses in India with international partners. They are also committed to investing in the communities they serve.”
The Coca -Cola Co’s locally-owned franchise partners in India are positioned to drive successful outcomes. The investment by the Jubilant Bhartia Group family will contribute to the company’s ongoing success and help strengthen its position in the Indian market, added The Coca-Cola Co in a press statement.
Jubilant Bhartia group founder & chairman Shyam S. Bhartia and founder & co-chairman Hari S. Bhartia said the investment is an ideal addition to their business. They have a fortune estimated at about $.4.5 billion according to Forbes. The group has a presence in fast food, pharma, energy and auto distribution. Group company Jubiliant Foodworks operates the Dominos Pizza, Dunkin Donuts and Popeye’s franchises in India.
“The Coca- Cola Co is home to some of the most respected global brands and we are delighted to be associated with them,” Bhartia said. “Together, we will leverage opportunities to grow the business to greater heights and ensure more Indian consumers can enjoy The Coca Cola Co’s refreshing portfolio of iconic local and international brands.”
Because the brothers have non-disclosure agreements with the beverage giant, the Bhartias were loath to reveal any details of the scale of investment the deal entailed, but market guesstimates are that it is at around Rs 12,500 crore, with HCCB being valued at Rs 31,250 crore.
The Coca -Cola India president & southwest Asia operating unit head Sanket Ray said. “We welcome the Jubilant Bhartia group to the Coca -Cola system in India. With its diverse experience in various sectors, Jubilant brings decades of rich experience that will help accelerate the Coca -Cola system, enabling us to win in the market and provide greater value to local communities and consumers.”
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Rothschild & Co acted as exclusive financial adviser to The Coca -Cola Co while Morgan Stanley was the advisor for the Jubiliant Bhartia group
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
