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Nielsen figures show Sprite growth in China

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-02-11 15:42
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Coca-Cola China told China Daily Thursday that the market share for Sprite in the country stands at 26.9 percent, dismissing a previous report that claimed a significant drop in sales.

"Recently a research company in Shenzhen claimed that Sprite had been losing market share – from 13.3 percent to 9.8 percent. These numbers are completely incorrect and very far from reality," the world's largest soft drink maker said in an emailed statement.

"Sprite is the most popular sparkling beverage in China," the company said, citing the latest available figures from Nielsen – a leading independent consumer industry research company in China. Nielsen puts Sprite's share of the Chinese market at 26.9 percent.

According to the Q4 results of Coca-Cola announced earlier this week, unit case volume in China grew 29 percent in the quarter, and Sprite grew more than 10 percent during the quarter, the statement said.