The Japanese division of the Coca-Cola Co., Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., has announced that it is to form a joint venture with the company’s six local bottlers in order to establish a nationwide supply-chain-management system for the group. The new company will be operational from April 1.

The move is aimed at optimising the group’s procurement, manufacturing and distribution. The six bottlers concerned are Coca-Cola West Japan Co., Coca-Cola Central Japan Co., Mikuni Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Kinki Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Tone Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and Tokyo Coca-Cola Bottling Co. It is also understood that Coca-Cola’s other Japanese bottlers will join the system in due course.

The new company will have a total capital of Y10.5m with Coca-Cola and each of the six bottlers owning equal shares of 14.29%.