Coca Cola

I guess this article is from 1996???

Coca-Cola Begins Bottling Operations in Armenia

Yerevan, The Coca-Cola Bottlers Armenia Started to produce the cola-based soft drink in Armenia. Initial produciton is expected to reach 100 million bottles a year, company officials said last week.

"The quality of Armenian Coca-Cola is as good as that being produced in Atlanta," said Director General of the Yerevan-based bottling company, Stefanos Kostarelis, at a May 31 press conference in Yerevan.

He stressed that international experts had praised the taste and quality of the Armenian Coca-Cola.

He also announced that the soft drink produced in Armenia would be two times cheaper than the product which is currently being sold on the Armenian market. The actual price will depend on the stores' pricing policies, he said.

The beverage is being produced by Yerevans Osharak Co., whose 80% of shares have been recently purchased by "Coca-Cola Bottlers Armenia." The firm was founded by Armenian businessman Vatche Manoukian of London, jointly with the Greek "Hellenic Bottling Co."

In 1996, the joint venture expects to invest $3 million in the production, and expand the investment later to $8 million.

The Yerevan-produced Coca-Cola will be sold only in Armenia.