SLMG Beverages has commissioned what it calls South Asia’s largest Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bihar, marking one of the biggest private manufacturing investments in the state in recent years.

The ₹1,200 crore greenfield facility, located in Nawanagar in Buxar district, is spread across 65 acres and comes with seven high-speed production lines capable of producing over 5,000 bottles per minute. The plant will manufacture carbonated soft drinks, juices, packaged drinking water and aseptic beverages, and is expected to serve as a key supply hub for Bihar and neighbouring eastern Uttar Pradesh.

At the inauguration on March 1, Bihar deputy chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, said the project reflects the state’s push to attract large-scale industry. “The industrial transformation we are witnessing in Bihar today is the result of initiatives like this state-of-the-art ₹1000+ crore facility established by SLMG Beverages Pvt. Ltd. This will not only strengthen the state’s economy but also create new employment opportunities at the local level,” he said.

Industries Minister, Dilip Jaiswal added that the state remains committed to welcoming investors. “The new plant by SLMG Beverages in Buxar is a monumental step towards industrial development in the state,” he said.

A supply hub for eastern India

This is SLMG’s first Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bihar and its eighth manufacturing unit overall. The company, headquartered in Lucknow, is among the largest bottling partners of The Coca-Cola Company in India.

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Rahul Kumar, deputy CEO, SLMG Beverages, described the commissioning as a “landmark moment” for both the company and the state. “Today is a landmark moment for Bihar, particularly for Buxar, as it welcomes a new Coca-Cola bottling plant established with an investment of ₹1,200 crore,” he said. He added that the facility will generate direct and indirect employment for nearly 1,300 people.

The company estimates over 1,000 direct jobs at the plant, with thousands more indirect roles across logistics, distribution and ancillary sectors. It said hiring will focus on local talent, with training and safety programmes aligned to global standards.

By locating the plant closer to consumption markets in eastern India, SLMG expects to reduce logistics costs and improve supply responsiveness, particularly during peak summer demand. The facility also has room for future expansion to cater to growing demand across eastern and central India.

The plant deploys automated machinery, AI-enabled quality control and digital monitoring systems. Advanced PET bottle technology is designed to extend product shelf life up to eight months. Sustainability features include dedicating around 40% of the land to green belt development, wastewater treatment and reuse systems, energy-efficient lighting, and the use of rice husk biofuel to cut fossil fuel dependence.

SLMG currently operates eight plants across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, supported by over 3,000 distrubutors, more than 30 warehouses and a network reaching over 1.5 million retail outlets.