Here’s a rephrased version of the text:
- Ravi Jaipuria was born in 1953 into a traditional Marwari family, where business was in his blood. His father, Chunni Lal Jaipuria, became a bottling franchisee for Coca-Cola. However, when India introduced new foreign exchange laws in 1977, Coca-Cola had to exit the country, leaving the family to rethink their business strategy. 🤔
- After Coca-Cola’s departure, the Jaipuria family began bottling the rising local brand Thums Up. However, fate had other plans. In 1985, tragedy struck when Ravi’s wife died in a plane crash, and by 1987, the family business was divided among the three Jaipuria brothers. Ravi, the youngest, faced the toughest challenge. 👇
- He took charge of their bottling plant in Agra. As he was getting a handle on the business, Pepsi entered the Indian market in 1991, aiming to dethrone Thums Up, which had captured 80% of the market after Coca-Cola’s exit. Ravi was contemplative but soon made a bold move. 🙌
- He shifted his strategy and struck a deal with Pepsi to become their bottling partner. With this new direction, he established a new company named after his son. On June 16, 1995, Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) was founded. 🚀
- Ravi started operations in Jaipur, but Coca-Cola made a strong comeback by acquiring Thums Up from Parle in 1993. In response, Ravi expanded his operations to nearby cities like Alwar, Jodhpur, and Kosi. In 1997, he became the first Indian to win Pepsi’s Bottler of the Year award. Then, 2003 brought new challenges. 👇
- In 2003, Pepsi and Coca-Cola’s 12 brands came under scrutiny for containing pesticide levels 40 times higher than permitted. Sales plummeted by 40%, and the Indian soft drink market, worth $1.5 billion, faced a crisis. It was during this turbulent time that Pepsi appointed its first female CEO in its 44-year history, Indra Nooyi. 🧍♀️
- In 2007, Nooyi launched Pepsi’s new mission, “Performance with Purpose,” focusing on reducing sugar and sodium in the company’s core snacks and beverages. By 2014, Pepsi’s sales in India had grown by 11% to reach 9,000 crores, with Ravi overseeing operations across Pepsi’s 42 Indian plants, making India its fastest-growing market. 📉
- On November 8, 2016, VBL made its debut with an IPO worth 1,112.50 crores, which was oversubscribed by 1.86 times. By 2018, VBL secured the exclusive rights to promote Tropicana and Gatorade in North and East India, achieving sales of 3,958.5 crores. 💰
- VBL’s success went global, as it won contracts to distribute PepsiCo products in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yet, India remained its core market, contributing 80% of its 13,429.40 crores in revenue by 2022. ✅
- Today, VBL generates revenue of 16,400 crores. It operates in 6 countries and 27 Indian states and is Pepsi’s second-largest franchisee outside the USA, contributing 90% of Pepsi’s sales in India. The company is valued at 209,471 crores. 💪
Ravi Jaipuria himself is worth 152,130 crores, earning him the well-deserved title of the “Cola King of India.” 🇮🇳