Coca-Cola is injecting $133m into juice and dairy production in Mexico via the soft-drinks giant’s local subsidiary Jugos del Valle-Santa Clara.

The project, co-funded by the Jalisco state government, aimed to increase milk processing and distribution capacity by 30% at a Jalisco-based dairy plant.

Funding will also be allocated to growing Jugos del Valle’s portfolio of juice and nectar drinks.

Jugos del Valle acquired Mexican milk, ice cream and dairy products manufacturer Santa Clara in 2012.

The Coca-Cola Company bought Jugos del Valle in a joint venture in 2007 with Mexican bottling company Coca-Cola FEMSA.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, general director of Jugos del Valle–Santa Clara, said in a statement last week (19 October) the investment could generate up to 350 jobs in house as well as the need for 1,200 contract employees.

The funding will also go towards developing production technology and providing training for workers.

Plans are also in place for a programme to boost the company’s work with local milk producers to increase supply.

The organisation’s Jalisco-based factory first opened in 2019 with 80 employees and three production lines, which has since increased to 300 workers and eight production lines.

Jaramillo added: “We are going to achieve and generate wellbeing for the state and the country. Today we are celebrating an investment that we did not expect to achieve, $133m is a very important [amount of] money.”

Rodrigo Martínez, non-carbonated drinks manager at Coca-Cola Mexico, said the investment added to the 350m pesos the company had already invested in improving employment, sustainability, and economic and environmental development in Jalisco.

Just Drinks has contacted Coca-Cola Mexico and Jugos del Valle–Santa Clara for more information on the facility and the types of new jobs will be offered at the site.