HCCB Layoffs: Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Planning to Lay Off 300 Employees Amid Profit Decline and Weak Sales
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) is set to lay off around 300 employees across multiple functions as part of a restructuring plan. The move comes amid a 73% drop in net profit to INR 756.64 crore and weak sales affected by unseasonal rainfall, impacting India’s soft drinks market valued at nearly INR 60,000 crore.
Bengaluru, December 24: Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), the largest bottling partner for Coca-Cola India, has announced a significant workforce reduction, impacting approximately 300 employees across various functions. The HCCB layoffs come as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to optimise its business structure and enhance operational efficiencies in a competitive market landscape.
HCCB Layoffs Reason, Impact and Worker Adjustment Details
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) is planning restructuring across multiple verticals, including sales, supply chain, distribution, and bottling operations at its manufacturing facilities. The changes come under new leadership, with Hemant Rupani appointed as CEO in July 2025. Rupani, who previously held a senior leadership role at Mondelez International, succeeds Juan Pablo Rodriguez. HCCB operates under a franchise-led model, supplying beverage concentrate to independent bottlers who manufacture and distribute products. Changes in bottling ownership therefore directly influence the company’s reported revenues and profitability. Foxconn Hiring: Apple’s Largest Supplier Expands iPhone Manufacturing in India, Adds 30,000 Workers at Devanahalli Plant.
HCCB Layoffs Announced Amid Loss of Profit, Weak Demand
The planned layoffs follow a sharp decline in financial performance. Regulatory filings accessed via Tofler show that HCCB’s net profit fell 73% to INR 756.64 crore in FY25, while revenue from operations dropped 9% to INR 12,751.29 crore. The company partly attributed the decline to a high base effect in FY24, when bottling operations in Rajasthan, Bihar, the north-east, and parts of West Bengal were sold to franchise partners Moon Beverages, Kandhari Global Beverages, and SLMG Beverages. John Carreyrou Files Lawsuit against xAI, Google, Meta Over AI Copyright Infringement, New York Times Reporter Alleges Unauthorised Use of Books.
Weak consumer demand and unseasonal rainfall further weighed on sales during FY25. The March–September period, particularly April–June, usually accounts for the highest soft drink volumes, but irregular weather led to lower industry-wide sales. India’s soft drinks market, valued at nearly INR 60,000 crore, experienced subdued demand during this critical period, affecting HCCB and other beverage manufacturers.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2025 03:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).