Coca-Cola sees slower growth rate

Coca-Cola HBC Romania, the largest player on the soft drinks market, saw a “high single-digit growth” in the third quarter of the year against the same time last year, according to a financial report of Greece-based Coca-Cola Hellenic. The third quarter growth rate is similar to the second quarter one, which was also a “high single-digit growth.” “Last year, the bottler reported above 10% quarterly growth rates. However, halfway through 2008, the company signalled in a report to shareholders, that the Romanian economic environment was less likely to encourage a rise in consumption this year, amid an increase in food and fuel prices. The worsening conditions on the soft drinks market comes after, in 2007, Coca-Cola HBC Romania had reached a seven-year high in terms of sales volume rate, 23% higher than in 2006.