Soft Drink Industry Research Articles

English

Beverages based on fruit and milk products are currently receiving considerable attention as their market potential is growing. Soft drink industry had made significant progress during recent years in terms of production, but there is only a limited range of flavours available in India. The present study was carried out to develop novel milk based fruit flavoured beverages using 10, 15 and 20% apple juice (v/v) and sodium alginate as stabilizer (0.5%), in the formulation. The beverages were evaluated for their stability and various physico-chemical, sensory and microbial properties during 7 days refrigerated storage. The pH value of the beverages decreased from 6.3 - 6.0, 6.4 - 6.20 and 6.5 - 6.4; ascorbic acid content from 1.550 - 1.503%, 3.172 - 3.166% and 3.760 - 3.360% and total sugar content from 10.83 - 10.80%, 10.77 - 10.75% and 10.75 - 10.73% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Whereas acidity increased from 0.117 - 0.282%, 0.225 - 0.290% and 0.273 - 0.295% and reducing sugars content from 4.49 4.55%, 4.40 - 4.42% and 4.34 - 4.39% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. During refrigerated storage no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed with respect to fat, protein, viscosity and specific gravity but, total plate count showed a slight increase in microbial count. The studies revealed that the milk based fruit flavored beverage prepared with 80% milk and 20% apple juice scored maximum for sensorial quality attributes such as color, flavor and overall acceptability.

English

Researchers have acknowledged the importance of corporate reputation amongst different fields of study. Scolars addressing corporate reputation in the field of marketing have acknowledged corporate reputation has a positive effect on customer loyalty and satisfaction. However, there is limited research tackling brand preference and also these studies mainly tackled developed markets. The relationship between corporate reputation and brand preference is the focus of this research. The researcher focuses on the soft drinks market in Egypt; to examine whether a significant relationship exists between corporate reputation and consumer brand preference. The researcher used the dimensions in RepTrak™ Model which are: Products and Services, Innovation, Performance, Citizenship, Governance, Leadership, and Workplace. The sample was 247 respondents mostly Egyptians middle class aged 21-29 years old. Data analyses have been conducted using selected statistical tests such as normality, autocorrelation and multi-co linearity tests to achieve the research objectives and answer the research questions. The findings showed that there is a positive significant relationship between brand preference and corporate reputation dimensions. At the end the researcher provides recommendations for further use of the model identified and areas where future research is needed. Key words: Corporate reputation, corporate reputation management, brand preference, stakeholders, soft drinks industry.

A Markovian Study of Manpower Planning in the Soft-Drink Industry in Nigeria

A Markovian approach to the analysis of data pertaining to recruitment, active staff wastage and retirement collected over a period of five years from a soft drink manufacturing company based in Lagos, Nigeria, is presented. Our results suggest that although the company studied has a long term employment policy, staff who retire from the system are disproportionately small 15 to 26 % compared to those who leave through wastage (74-85)%. This paper proposes a review of the current manpower policy to moderate the perceived imbalance in policy structure. The author is convinced that the method advocated is effective as a decision support instrument for solving manpower planning problems in industrial organizations. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v33i4.15

The growth of the soft drinks industry in middle-income countries: current trends and policy implications in China and India.

Levels of obesity are rising in middle-income countries around the world, concerning many public health professionals due to the role obesity can have in non-communicable disease. Simon Nicholas Williams, Research Associate at Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, USA, takes a look at recent trends in the soft drinks industry, and the implications these trends can have on obesity and public health.

Chemical fractionation of heavy metals and nutrients in sludge and waste water generated by Coca-Cola soft drink industry

Coca-Cola soft drinks industry generates three sludge types, viz., water treatment sludge (WTS), effluent treatment plant sludge (ETPS) and filter cake sludge (FCS), and two waste waters, viz., effluent and influent. Total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), potassium (TK) and sulfur (TS) concentrations were significantly higher in ETPS than in WTS and FCS, indicating that Coca-Cola sludge is a good source of macronutrients. Among micronutrients, total iron (T-Fe) and copper (T-Cu) concentrations were significantly higher in ETPS, and total zinc (T-Zn) and manganese (T-Mn) concentrations were significantly higher in WTS compared with other sludge types. Among heavy metals, total cadmium (T-Cd) and arsenic (T-As) concentrations were significantly higher in ETPS, and total mercury (Hg) and nickel (T-Ni) concentrations were significantly higher in WTS than other sludge types. Speciation of micronutrients/heavy metals in sludge performed by using sequential extraction showed their predominance as crystalline and specifically adsorbed components. Only a small portion of each micronutrient/heavy metal was retrieved in readily exchangeable {water soluble (WS) + exchangeable (EXCH)} form. The existence of micronutrients/heavy metals in organic matter (OM) and oxide {manganese-oxide (MnOX) + amorphous iron and aluminum oxide (AMPOX) + crystalline iron and aluminum oxide (CRYOX)} bound fractions revealed very restricted release potential of sludge in soil solution.

Customer Based Brand Equity: Evidence from the Soft Drink Industry in Pakistan

This study aimed to investigate the impact of brand equity on consumer responses in soft drink industry. Endeavor is to improve the conceptualization of brand equity concept in Pakistan. The study seeks guidance from Kellers Customer Based Brand Equity (CBBE) Model regarding link between brand equity and customer response. The study was designed to test the hypotheses through measuring the dimensions of brand equity of soft drink industry. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Brand equity predictors help to create and build customer based brand equity (CBBE) through an inter link order. Brand quality, brand association and brand image emerge as vital factors to affect the growth of CBBE. However, brand loyalty shows insignificant impact on growth of CBBE in socioeconomic context of Pakistani customers.The research study was limited to Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Faisalabad with restricted sample. The study should have vital practical implications for practicing managers and marketing strategists in the industry. The research paper aimed to comprehend the effects of customers based brand equity (CBBE) on customer responses in the context of soft drink industry of Pakistan. This study should deliver valuable information for the organizations who desire to develop brand equity for their products.

Challenges of Channel Conflicts Management in Soft Drink

Producing products that customers want, pricing them correctly and developing well designed promotional plans are necessary but not sufficient conditions for customer satisfaction. The final part of the Jigsaw is distribution, the place element of the Marketing Mix. Products need to be available in adequate quantities, in convenient locations and at the time when customers want to buy them. Producers need to consider not only the needs of their ultimate customers but also the requirements of channel intermediaries, those organizations responsible for facilitating the distribution of products to customers. When producers and channel members are independent, inevitably conflict occurs from time to time. The intensity of conflict can range from occasional, minor disagreements that are quickly forgotten, to major disputes that fuel continuous bitter relationships. This paper focused on the challenges of channel conflicts management in soft drink industry with particular reference to coca-cola. The paper x-rayed the channels of distribution, generally and specifically in coca-cola; causes of channel conflicts and conflict resolutions. Recommendations were made on how best channel conflicts could be resolved through partnership approach, market partitioning, co-operation and adoption of super ordinate goals.

Hybrid simulation and MIP based heuristic algorithm for the production and distribution planning in the soft drink industry

This study addresses the production and distribution planning problem in the soft drink industry. The problem involves the allocation of production volumes among the different production lines in the manufacturing plants, and the delivery of products to the distribution centers (DCs). A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is developed for the problem.In this paper, we present a hybrid solution methodology combining simulation and mixed integer programming (MIP) based Fixed and Optimize heuristic to solve the considered problem. First, MIP based Fix and Relax (F&R), Fix and Optimize (F&O) heuristics are proposed. The solution quality and performance of the proposed heuristics are analyzed with the randomly generated demand figures for the three granularity categories and various capacity load scenarios. Computational performances of these heuristic procedures are compared with the standard MIP results. The computational experiments carried out on a large set of instances have shown that the F&O heuristic algorithm provides good quality solutions in a reasonable amount of time. Second, simulation model is introduced to represent the problem with stochastic machine failures. Hybrid methodology combining the MIP based F&O heuristic and simulation model is implemented. The optimization model uses an F&O heuristic to determine the production and delivered quantity. Subsequently the simulation model is applied to capture the uncertainty in the production rate. Numerical studies from the data which have a tight production capacity and high demand granularity demonstrate that the developed hybrid approach is capable of solving real sized instance within a reasonable amount of time and demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.

Improvement of Preventive Maintenance Plan for an Automatic Labeling System: A Case Study of a Carbonated Soft Drink Industry

The aims of this research are to improve the preventive maintenance plan and to prepare the autonomous maintenance plan of an automatic labeling system for a carbonated soft drink industry as a case study. The labeling system of the case study has experienced the wastes in maintenance. According to the maintenance problem analysis, the main causes are lack of or inadequate preventive maintenance program, inadequate work order monitoring system, and inadequate staff skills (problem-solving skills of maintenance) to perform work. Therefore, in order to reduce the number and length of machine breakdowns and the seriousness of breakdowns, the preventive maintenance program is used instead of breakdown and routine maintenance by which maintenance skills are required, and in order to improve how machines are operated and handled by improving the skills, and the autonomous maintenance manual is set up to prepare for autonomous maintenance. After the improved preventive maintenance plan has been developed and then implemented, it was found that machine downtime reduced by 1.35% and machine availability increased by 1.74%.

Systematic Tracking of Key Performance Indicators for Enhanced Use of Enterprise Reports in the Soft Drinks Industry in Kenya

Computer based information systems that exist in organizations gather and store voluminous data that is a useful resource in supporting management decision making. Enterprise Reporting, which is the focus of this study, provides a means by which these organizations can unify and sift the vast amounts of electronic data available so as to glean insights that are handy in management decision making. This paper aims at finding a solution to the current underutilization of the existing volumes of electronic data through enterprise reporting. The study specifically assessed the status and the challenges of enterprise reporting, and determined appropriate Key Performance Indicators that can be tracked, and how they can be tracked to enhance the use of enterprise reports. Data was collected through the use of interviews, and thematic analysis method was used to analyze the responses obtained. Purposive sampling method was used to get respondents, drawn from business and Information Technology functions of the organization. The study was informed by systems theory, whereby enterprise reporting was regarded a component of a computer based information system of a typical organization. The study anticipated that utilization of electronic data through enterprise reporting can be improved through systematic tracking of Key Performance Indicators related to the factors that negatively influence the use of enterprise reports.Whereas this study was confined to specific company in the soft drinks industry, the findings can be of relevance to a wider group of related organizations. The study has generated an in-depth understanding of the issues related to the use of enterprise reports and anticipated to make a contribution to the existing knowledge on Enterprise Reporting and Business Intelligence in general in various organizations. The findings of the research will therefore help shape policies relating to the use of enterprise reports to facilitate better decision making and consequently better realization of organizational goals.

Assessment of Artificial Swtching Barriers in Carbonated Soft Drink Industry in Nigeria

This paper investigated the relationship between the practices of imposing barriers on switching, the freedom of choice and ethical issues arising there from, in carbonated soft drink industry in Nigeria. Using convenience sampling, a sample of 200 respondents (88 females and 112 male) was drawn from hotels, restaurants, and other exclusive outlets. We employed a five Liket-scale response ranging from strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agreed to strongly, agreed. The study found that some consumers that is loyal to competing products may also decide not to patronize the outlets where barriers to choice are imposed thereby leading to loss of purchase. Also, where formidable and practicable, instituting barriers may provide competitive instrument provided loss of sale can be minimized but it should not be encouraged so that emerging products and competition can have a level playground for competition.

Direct, Residual, and Cumulative Effects of Mixed Sludge Generated by Coca-cola Soft-Drink Industry on Crop Yield, Soil Fertility, and Heavy-Metal Uptake in Rice–Wheat Cropping Sequence

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of directly, residually, and cumulatively applied mixed sludge generated by the soft-drink industry on rice and wheat yields, soil fertility, grain heavy-metal uptake, depthwise distribution of micronutrients and heavy-metals after 3 years of application. Crop (rice/wheat) yield (grain/straw) increased significantly with direct sludge application at 10.0 t ha−1 year−1, either alone or jointly with fertilizers, over the absolute control. Interestingly, the effects of sludge application on crop (rice/wheat) yield either applied directly at 10.0 t ha−1 year−1, residually at 30.0 t ha−1 year−1, and/or cumulatively at 15.0 t ha−1 were nonsignificant. Direct sludge application at 5.0/10.0 t ha−1 year−1 resulted in significant increase in heavy-metal uptake over the absolute control. The micronutrient/heavy-metal contents in surface soil were significantly greater with sludge application than those in subsurface layers. The results thus show that sludge application results in significant improvement in yield and soil fertility.

The Causes of Labour Turnover in Bottling Companies in Nigeria: A Comparative Study of Coca-Cola Plc and Seven Up Plc. Lagos, Nigeria

This study compared the causes of labour turnover in Coca-Cola Plc and Seven Up Plc. in Lagos, Nigeria. They are the major producers of soft drink in Nigeria. Labour turnover costs soft drink industries in Nigeria considerable amount of money yearly in recruiting and training replacements. It is an economic drain to the industry. A sizeable income is also incurred through new employees that are more prone to accidents, causes more breakages and make more mistakes than experience workers. Other loses are also incurred through reduced production, work disruption and increase scrap and overtime as a result of departed workers. A cross-sectional survey was utilized to collect data for answering research questionnaires and testing hypothesis in this study. The data collected from questionnaire instrument were also analysed using percentages (%) and Z-test for comparing two proportions. Comparative analysis of the data showed that Seven Up Plc. rated unwillingness to perform as major cause of discharge while Coca-Cola Plc. rated attitudinal causes. Both companies rated unsatisfactory pay as the major cause of resignation. Seven Up Plc. was not significantly better than Coca-Cola Plc. on a hypothesis testing about the difference between proportions of samples. The Null hypothesis assumed that there were no difference in parameters and that the difference observed between sample percent was due to chance.

Food Industry Firms' Economic Incentives to Provide Nutritional Information to the Market: European Breakfast Cereals, Snacks, and Soft Drinks Industries

Information asymmetries between producers and consumers exist with respect to nutritional characteristics of foods and beverages. This article aims to analyze firms' methods to supply nutritional information, focusing on 3 specific food industries: breakfast cereals, snacks, and soft drinks. A theoretical model is developed and tested empirically on European firm-level data obtained from company websites. Firms' incentives to provide nutritional information are positively related to their products' healthfulness, to firm size, and to firms' degree of international orientation. These insights may have important implications for the design of regulations to increase efficiency in the supply of nutritional information to consumers.

Trade Sales Promotion Strategies and Marketing Performance in the Soft Drink Industries in Nigeria

Rapid changes in technology, over production, shortened product life cycles, increased competition owing toreduced barriers to domestic and international trade, mass communication and globalization have all contributedto the need for a firm to have distinctive capabilities; which create a competitive advantage over others. We areinclined to believe that fully utilized, competent and well-articulated trade sales promotion strategies constitute acompetitive advantage. With the notion that trade sales promotion strategies positively correlates with marketingperformance, firms view trade sales promotion strategy incompetence with grave concern. The effect of poortrade promotion strategy performance is not limited to firms alone since organizations can and do experiencesub-optimal or out-right poor performance; but also to the economy as a whole. The aggregate businessperformance of a country’s economic unit shapes its economy, since a nation’s wealth is measured mostly interms of its GDP. Among the factors critical to business profitability; fresh concerns about the efficacy of tradepromotion strategies is sparsely researched. This informs the research interest in this regard, recognizing theunique role of trade sales promotion strategies that distinguishes it from other marketing communicationmethods, and its critical roles in pushing and creating traffic for the manufacturer’s product. With a surveyresearch design, a regression model was formulated to incorporate eleven hypotheses of interests. Quantitativedata were collected through a 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. A total of 234 copies of questionnaire werecompleted by senior promotion and sales executives of two major soft drink manufacturing firms and theiraccredited distributors in Nigeria. We adopted Pearson’s ‘r’ and stepwise regression with itsconstituents-ANOVA and T-test to determine the trade sales promotion activities that actually influencemarketing performance activities in these firms. Two of the hypothesized trade sales promotion strategies wereretained and adjudged relevant in determining marketing performance levels. Our findings reveal that Tradepromotion strategies affect marketing performance through the use of trade allowances and trade contests.Notwithstanding this fact, the study notes that the firms are not at their optimal levels in both their tradepromotion strategies and marketing performance. We therefore recommend that for optimal levels to be achieved,they should adopt trade promotion strategies that emphasize trade allowances and trade contests.

English

There are number of issues in soft drink industries’ mode of GAC operation, however, this study focuses on three issues like control of regeneration breakthrough in line with Chlorine and THM breakthrough; its frequency of regeneration and finally the competitive adsorption of different THM on two different types of GAC and extrapolation of result to full scale plant. All the experiments were conducted using rapid small scale column test (RSSCT). And for de-chlorination experiment, deionized water spiked with 2 mg/L chlorine (HOCl) was used. On the other hand, for THM’s removal experiment, deionized model water was used with two THM species (chloroform, bromoform or mixture of both components) at a total THM concentration of approximately 80 µg/L. In the experiments, GAC breakthrough curves were established with RSSCT protocol. Therefore, in this study, GAC regeneration is reveled to be controlled by THMs removal. And, RSSCT suggests that in the treatment plant (THMs concentration in feed water of approximately 80 µg/L) Calgon F200 GAC (empty bed contact time (EBCT) = 7.12 min) could treat up to 12000BV before breakthrough of 10 µg/L and this would correspond to 2 months operation. In this study, both Calgon F200 and Norit GCN 1240 also demonstrated in RSSCT experiments that THMs can be effectively reduced below 10 µg/L. However, RSSCT-chloroform adsorption showed slightly higher capacity of Norit GCN 1240 at lower concentration (< 40 µg/L) and slightly higher capacity of Calgon F200 at higher concentration (> 50 µg/L) for Co= 79.8 ± 4.30 µg chloroform/L and EBCT of 0.31 min.   Key words: Granular activated carbon (GAC), rapid small scale column test (RSSCT), bromoform, chloroform, de-chlorination and trihalomethanes (THMs).

Impacts of Advertising and Sales Promotion on Brand Equity of Soft Drinks

The paper aims to illuminate the relationship between advertising, promotions and brand equity. First of all, a preliminary research is conducted by means of group discussions and in-depth interviews to formulate a measurement scale. Then, to conduct the official research, 339 questionnaires are disseminated to respondents to collate data. The EFA, Cronbach?s Alpha, and CFA are utilized to test the scale. Hypotheses are tested by the SEM. Analytical results indicate that the determinants of brand equity in the soft drinks industry comprise: brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations and brand loyalty. Advertising positively affects components of the brand equity; promotions can enhance the perceived quality; the brand awareness boosts brand associations; and the perceived quality promotes the brand loyalty.

Wastewater from the soft drinks industry as a source for bioethanol production

Wastewaters from the soft drinks industry were examined as media for producing bioethanol using yeast-mediated fermentation. Fermentation assays were performed using cola-type, orange and lemon-lime soft drinks and the biomass, sugar and ethanol levels were monitored over time. The effect of the addition of yeast extract was evaluated; the results indicated that 15g/L is a suitable value for successful fermentation. Depletion of the sugars contained in the soft drinks (10–12% w/v) was achieved in less than 12h when the medium was inoculated with 2g/L of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. Windsor. Ethanol yields were close to the theoretical values. The performance of several kinetic models was evaluated, and their parameters were determined. A model including inhibition by ethanol enabled the best adjustment of the experimental results in all assayed media. Some soft drinks include sodium benzoate in their formulae, the effect of which on yeast metabolism is discussed.

Value addition and processed products of three indigenous fruits in Namibia

The objectives of this study were to add value to three popular indigenous fruits found in Namibia namely, Marula (Sclerocarya birrea), Monkey orange (Strychnos cocculoides) and Eembe (Berchemia discolour) into processed food products and to train rural communities on value addition for job creation, income generation and food security. Indigenous fruits are receiving increasing interests from researchers and scholars because of their nutrition and abundance in most African countries. The fruits are important sources of food for rural communities especially at times of food shortage, hunger and other disasters. In addition, they provide enormous health benefits such as antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. They are also known to create jobs and generate income for rural communities. Because of their role in combating food insecurity, nutrition and the problems of seasonality, studies on their value addition were carried out in Namibia. Different types of food products were made from the fruits namely; juice, jam, jelly and muffins (cakes). A pilot study was carried out to determine the levels and preference range of ingredients in the mix to formulate recipes of the products prior to processing and training the community members. The results were subjected to paired preference tests and the best ratio was then used. According to consumer preference test, marula juice was on the lower value (2.3) due to its low pH (3.26). As for jam and jelly; quality, taste and colour were acceptable and preferred. The three products made from monkey orange were all preferred but those from eembe were downgraded (2.31-3.20) due to dark colour and lack of flavour. The microbiological quality of the produced products confirmed their safety characteristics. The products made in this study were shown to be viable, of good quality and good sources of income for rural communities. The fruit flavour from marula and monkey orange can be utilized in the dairy and other soft drink industries for making yoghurts, sour milk, ice cream, juices and jams. Key words : Indigenous fruits, Value addition, Namibia

How Effective is the Current Procedure of Product Quality Standardization in the Indian Market?: A Case Study on Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) - National Standards Body

And whatever happened to the pesticide content found in Bisleri in 2003. In 2003 and 2006, there turned out to be a dramatic fight that saw Pepsi and Coca-Cola joining hands to fight Sunita Narayan of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) as the whole country looked on concerned about claims, that the Indian Public had been drinking for years, as a mark of celebration, ‘drinks’ that were claimed to be efficient toilet-cleaners! A rare sight where the stalwarts of the soft drink industry and all-time staunch rivals came together to fight this new menace that posed a serious threat to their credibility. Joint Parliamentary Committees in India is no ordinary thing where scams worth Rs.1,76,000 crores also need a lot of political backing to make a case for themselves in order to have a JPC probe but the softdrinks had “been there, done that” in August 2003 itself. Old issues like Pesticides used for farming that led to a major health crisis amongst inhabitants of Kerala has got huge ratings for shows like Satyamev Jayate even in 2012. Punjab has the unique privilege of running its very own “Cancer train”. Cylinders, by law, can be sold under ISI certification only and yet reports of accidents of cylinders bursting are not a rarity. In cases as recent as May 2012, even major political leaders like Prakash Karat, general secretary of Communist Party of India(M), presiding over party meetings where over 200 party members were sitting, could not evade a LPG cylinder that burst at a distance of few 5 metres from the venue and could have posed a serious threat to life. Children still get shocks from sockets at home while electric switches are under mandatory ISI certification. In Mumbai recently, 643 bikers were fined Rs 200/- each for wearing helmets within a span of three days. Does not make any sense, right? Here is the complete story. They were apparently wearing helmets that did not carry ISI logos on them. This group of citizens, that follow traffic laws and wear helmets, is a rare sight in India and it was understandable when they were infuriated with the authorities for penalizing them. But the authorities were authorized by the commissioner to do so under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act. “What is an ISI mark by the way?” is what 40% of Indians might ask you. But as they say, ‘The Khans got around and they also roped in the Tendulkars and the Dhonis to advertise and the glamour quotient got the poor drinking again’. The public memory is often short-lived and more importantly, has at its peril a lot of other issues to deal with. The attitude of the people is ‘Somebody will take care of that one. Ye india hai, yaha sab chalta hai.’ This is in its very true sense “The Great Indian Tragedy”. Everybody knew what the issue was, they got the names right, they drummed up the issue, sparked off the debates but nobody did what was needed- a follow up! And this paper is an attempt to do just that.