The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) are to invest approximately €1 billion ($1.1bn) in France. The five-year investment will fund the introduction of new products, the expansion of CCEP’s bottling capacity and the modernisation of its manufacturing plants in the country.

Part of CCEP’s €500 million ($554m) investment will be spent on the development of its plant in Socx (Dunkerque) – in order to equip the site with a state-of-the-art aseptic bottling line in mid-2020. This will enable CCEP to meet consumer demand for ready-to-drink tea brand, Fuze Tea, and for Tropico, the juice drink acquired by Coca-Cola in 2018.

According to CCEP, additional funding across all five of its plants in France will enable the introduction of a higher quantity of recycled material in bottles and cans and the replacement of plastics by cardboard for secondary packaging.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola’s €500m will be spent on a combination of media, brand experiences or strategic partnerships, such as the company’s support of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Announcing the five-year investment plan at the Choose France Summit, Coca-Cola’s chief executive James Quincey reaffirmed the beverage giant’s commitment to the country.

“Coca-Cola has been part of France for a century and our presence today includes more than 2,800 people who work for Coca-Cola in France, plus many more across our entire value chain,” Quincey said. “Today’s announcement shows continued commitment to France, helping to build the French economy and contributing to sustainable French communities for years to come.”