31 July 2008 - Coca-Cola is believed to be developing a new range of drinks made from Chinese herbal remedies.
The soft drink’s giant is keeping tight-lipped about activities at its Research Center for Chinese Medicine in Beijing, which opened last October.
However, even when the world’s media were given a tour of the facility earlier this month and the centre’s director Zhang Huaying confirmed the company was developing specific drinks, she declined to give any details about the products.
"We're really working on it, and there are lots of things happening," she said, before adding the company was very "serious" about this line of products.
"The aim is to be global, but the source of the knowledge comes from China," she said.
Analysts are already anticipating with some relish the drinks that could spring from the work at the Chinese centre with Shanghai-based market-research firm Access Asia reportedly saying that Coke's bid may be "the new product for the new millennium."
Coca-cola is thought to be pushing non carbonated drinks that could be seen as a healthier option to its soda beverages as a response to market demands.
While sales of its soft drinks increased by 1% last quarter, those of still variety such as tea, juices and water leapt 13%. In North America, the company’s home market fizzy drinks sales actually fell while their still alternatives posted double-digit growth.