McDonald's in partnership with Coca-Cola India launches Cold Coffee and Ice Tea

Company release, May 25, 2004

New Delhi

McDonald's India, the world's leading food service retailer, today in a joint press conference with Coca-Cola India, announced the rollout of the premium range of ready-to-drink Georgia Gold Ice Tea and Cold Coffee.

The new beverages have been rolled out across McDonald's restaurants in Delhi and Mumbai in the first phase and will be available in other cities in India shortly.

With these new additions, McDonald's will now offer its patrons a wider range of beverages. Something for everyone in the beverage segment and a new reason for both the mothers accompanying their kids and the young adult to frequent the restaurants.

The Ice Tea is a refreshing, non-carbonated beverage with the tanginess of fresh lemon. The Cold Coffee is a creamy full-bodied drink, with the taste of fresh coffee and a hint of vanilla.

These beverages have been exclusively created for McDonald's by Coca-Cola India under the brand umbrella of 'Georgia Gold'. This is part of the strategic partnership that Coca-Cola India has with McDonald's India. This is also the first vending solution in Ice Tea and Cold Coffee that Coca-Cola has developed for McDonald's across the system worldwide. The equipment has been developed by Coca-Cola India R&D keeping in mind the McDonald's service standards and transactional needs, and enables premium Ice Tea and Cold Coffee to be dispensed in 25 seconds on an average, out of a very compact machine. The results of the consumer tests and in restaurant trials have been very encouraging.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vikram Bakshi, Joint Venture Partner & Managing Director, McDonald's North India, said, "McDonald's is proud to consolidate its partnership with Coca-Cola India in developing customised products for its customer's tastes and preferences. The introduction of Ice Tea and Cold Coffee demonstrates our commitment to provide consumers with a new and compelling menu options at reasonable prices."

Commenting on the foray into Ice Tea and Cold Coffee, Mr. Sanjiv Gupta, President & CEO, Coca-Cola India, said, "We have been able to develop world class beverages with the active support of McDonald's over the last one year, to meet the developing needs of the consumer. This is in line with our business vision to lead the beverage revolution in the country. Our strategic partnership with McDonald's has provided us with the best possible launching pad. The Georgia Gold Hot Beverages business has already proven this."

Mr. Amit Jatia, Joint Venture Partner & Managing Director, McDonald's (Western Region) further added, "At McDonald's we are constantly looking to offer new and innovative choices to our customers. The new Ice Tea with the tanginess of fresh lemon and Cold Coffee with a hint of vanilla, are novel and tasty non-carbonated beverages for the Indian palate and we are certain the consumer will be delighted with the new offerings."

Incidentally the Georgia Gold brand has been in the Japanese market for over two decades and enjoys the highest share in the Japanese ready-to-drink coffee market. In India, the Georgia Gold Roast and Ground (R&G) premium hot coffee was launched in India exclusively with McDonald's in July 2002, and has been tremendously successful.

The introduction of Georgia Gold Cold beverages adds momentum to key initiatives that McDonald's is already driving nationwide, including the recent launch of the New 'Happy Meal', the 'Happy Price Menu' and a number of in-restaurant magical moments for both the mother and the child.

McDonald's India

McDonald's is the world's leading food service retailer, with more than 31,000 restaurants serving over 47 million customers each day in more than 100 countries.

In India, McDonald's has 53 restaurants - 22 in Delhi, one in Gurgaon, three in Noida, one in Faridabad, one on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway, another on the Delhi-Agra Highway, one on the Delhi-Ludhiana Highway, two in Jaipur, one in Chandigarh, 15 in Mumbai, two in Pune, one in Vadodara and two in Ahmedabad.

Coca Cola India

Coca-Cola India, the country's largest carbonated soft drinks producer refreshes millions of consumers throughout the country with an exciting range of beverages including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke, Thums Up, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Maaza, Sunfill, Georgia, Georgia Gold, Kinley and Kinley Club Soda through a network of more than one million outlets. The company has invested more than US$ 1 billion in its Indian operations, emerging as one of the countrys top international investors and employs approximately 6,000 people in India.

For further information please contact:

Charu Raizada

PR PUNDIT (A Brand Partner of PORTER NOVELLI)

P 2 Haus Khas, New Delhi 110 016

Tel: 011-26560415, 26513075; Fax: 011-26961835

E-mail : charu.r@prpundit.com