Reliance As Part Of Its Expansion, Acquires Campa Cola
Campa was purchased by Reliance Retail for around 22 crores, and the company intends to introduce the renowned soft drink brand to India by October, around Diwali. It is anticipated that the drink will be reintroduced in its classic cola, lemon, and orange flavor.
Introduction
Reliance Industries (RIL), run by billionaire Mukesh Ambai, has bought the renowned domestic soft drink brand Campa from Delhi-based Pure Drinks Group just days after announcing its intention to enter the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Before international brands Pepsi and Coca-Cola entered the local market in the 1990s, Campa Cola dominated the Indian soft drink market in most of the country’s regions throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Reliance purchased Campa, according to reports, for around 22 crores and intends to introduce the brand in India by October, around Diwali. In addition, another soft drink brand, Sosyo, was purchased by the group from Hajoori, a Surat-based company. The action is said to be a part of the largest private sector company in the nation’s goal to enter the soft drink market, which multinational brands like Pepsi and Coca-Cola presently dominate.
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Information About Campa Cola
Manufacturer | Campa Beverages Private Ltd |
Flavor | Cola, orange, lime |
Introduced | 1977; 45 years ago |
Related products | Thumbs Up, Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola. |
Country of origin | India |
India’s version of Campa Cola is a soft drink. Before the entry of the foreign competitors Pepsi and Coca-Cola following the liberalization agenda of the P. V. Narasimha Rao Government in 1991, it dominated the Indian soft drink market in most Indian areas during the 1970s and 1980s.
For almost 15 years, The Pure Drinks Group and Campa Beverages Pvt. Ltd. effectively controlled the entire Indian soft drink market; but, in the lack of any international competition, they launched Campa Cola. The motto of the company, “The Great Indian Taste,” was a nationalistic appeal. The “Campa” emblem was then placed on the bottle of the orange-flavored beverage, which was marketed under the name Campa Orange.
Campa Cola Acquisition Agreement

image credit :-outlook india
Reliance purchased Campa from the Delhi-based Pure Drinks Group for around Rs 22 crore. It is expected to be brought back in its well-known cola, lemon, and orange tastes. The corporation wants to compete with PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, which in 1990 steadily eliminated Campa and intends to do so with this. The item will be sold in JioMart, Reliance Retail outlets, and Kirana retailers that source their goods from Reliance. Jallan Food Products now bottles Campa.
India’s soft drink market is dominated by the American cola goliaths PepsiCo and Coca-Cola India. The purchase is a part of Reliance’s plan to get into the rapidly changing consume goods sector.
During the annual general meeting, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) director Isha Ambani announced the company would begin selling FMCG products to shareholders. The market’s dominant company, Adani Wilmar, will now square off against Reliance and other FMCG firms. It is currently only available in a few markets and a small quantity. The Indian carbonated beverage market sector was estimated to be worth Rs 13,460 crore in FY 2020 and is estimated to increase to Rs 34,964 crore by FY27, according to a market research firm Research And Markets.
Growth Of Campa Cola And Expansion Under Reliance
The purchase of Campa is a component of Reliance’s larger plan to join the FMCG industry. Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL) director Isha Ambani disclosed at the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) that the company would start selling FMCG products this year. Reliance is already in negotiations with several manufacturers as part of its development effort in the FMCG sector; once the transactions are finalized, there will be a release of further details.
The market, which is estimated to be valued at over $100 billion, is mostly controlled by global firms like HUL, Reckitt, P&G, and Nestle, as well as Indian FMCG giants like Dabur, Emami, and Marico. Adani Wilmar, the market leader, and other FMCG companies will now compete against Reliance. To enhance its FMCG sector, Reliance has identified over two dozen prospective brands for acquisition or joint partnerships. The exorbitant prices demanded have already caused a few acquisitions to fall through. Reliance’s approach is to focus on modest transactions worth a few crores.
Reliance Retail was also made accessible on WhatsApp thanks to a partnership with Meta and JioMart. Customers may order groceries over WhatsApp. According to the source, the firm is in advanced negotiations with a soap brand, an edible oil and namkeen brand, and both the investigation is now being done.
Reliance Profit From Acquisitions
Reliance Retail added more than 2,500 outlets in the past year, bringing its total to over 15,000, and created 1.5 lakh jobs. Reliance Retail’s physical stores and digital platforms serve over 200 million registered consumers, equal to the combined populations of the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Reliance Retail’s new commerce effort has increased its merchant partner base to 20 lakh.
Throughout the year, it introduced a number of new items across many categories, including basics, homes, personal care, and general merchandise. Reliance Retail has undertaken more than 25 acquisitions in the past three years to expand its network of physical locations, product and service offerings, and brand portfolio.
In order to create an omnichannel platform, which combines physical retail, B2B with Kirana stores, and e-commerce with JioMart and Ajio, it has also acquired technology firms. Hamleys, Justdial, Milkbasket, Zivame, Portico, Netmeds, Urban Ladder, Dunzo, Shri Kannan Departmental Store, Jaisuryas, and Kalanikethan are just a few of the company’s important and significant retail growth purchases. In order to launch its activities in India, it has teamed up with 7-Eleven, the renowned international retail company.
Conclusion
After 1977, Campa Cola was the preferred cold beverage in India for almost 15 years. The brand became popular right away. It was produced in more than 50 facilities around the nation when it was at its peak. The market was ruled in the 1990s by Campa and the Parle-produced soft drink brands Thumbs Up, Gold Spot, and Limca.
However, when Coca-Cola eventually bought the three Parle brands upon its re-entry, Campa was unable to compete and exited the market. The most recent attempt to reenter the market occurred in 2019; however, because of a lack of financial clout, it was unable to rival Coca-Cola. Campa was unable to compete and ultimately vanished from the market due to a lack of resources. The markets for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and the companies they acquired have stayed steady since that time.
Why did Reliance purchase Campa Cola?
● The purchase of the Campa brand is a component of Reliance’s plan to expand its FMCG division and give it a clear focus through the use of both its own private labels and the acquisition of formerly well-known regional trademarks.
Who is Campa Cola’s owner?
● Reliance Retail
How come Campa Cola failed?
● The popularity of Campa Cola decreased once international companies returned to the soft drink industry in the 1990s, and its activities were reduced back since it could not withstand the competition.
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