Coca-Cola expands in Malaysia

Coca-Cola Co. plans to build a brand-new bottling plant in Malaysia to spread Coca-Cola soda and Sprite in the southeast Asia country. The company, which hosted a groundbreaking this week, said the plant is the first step in a drive to spend one billion Malaysian ringgit in Malaysia, or roughly $300 million at today's exchange rates, over the next five years.

Malaysia has an estimated population of 25.7 million, and Coca-Cola is targeting it as a growth market. Per capita consumption of Coca-Cola products among Malaysian consumers is much lower than in neighboring countries. Coca-Cola, the world's biggest beverage company, hopes its bigger manufacturing presence will help change that. The new plant is expected to become operational before the end of 2011.