Pakistan Beverage Limited was established on an auspicious day (the day of our Independence) ie 14th August in the year 1950. It was the first Pakistani Company to start the manufacture of a local registered and formulated softdrink brand - PAKOLA.
The Company in a very short period of time established the brand with good presence in the Karachi market with its different flavours ie Ice Cream Soda, Pakola Orange, Pakola Raspberry, Pakola Leechi etc. Pakola became quite popular not only in Karachi but other cities of the country. It added the Orange Crush in the late 50's early 60's which got a very good response from the consumers.
In 1979 Pepsi-Cola International offered the Pepsi Franchise to Pakistan Beverage Limited. Within five years of acquiring the Pepsi Franchise, Pakistan Beverage Limited succeeded in becoming the market leader in Soft Drinks in Karachi and later in Hyderabad.
This great success gradually trickled down to other cities of Pakistan in the South and the North of the country, over a period of time, making PEPSI the most popular soft drink in the country.
Pakistan Beverage today is one of the most well-equipped and well managed Pepsi-Cola Bottling Plant in its network of 10 Plants in Pakistan.
Under the dynamic leadership of its Chief Executive/Managing Director, Yasin H. Kassam who is assisted by his younger brother Siraj Kassam Teli and his son Zaid Yasin, together with a team of experienced and loyal professionals, the Company has made remarkable progress in every sphere of Beverage business ie sales, back-up service to the market/consumer, quality control, innovation, expansion such as addition of state of the art canning plant, besides the existing bottling plant, building-up of strong customer/consumer and company relationship etc.
Pakistan Beverage Limited has received, in the past, Quality Award as well as awards for achieving Sales Targets given by Pepsi-Cola International, New York.
Today, it has 3 bottling lines and one canning line producing 330ml Cans in various brand flavours ie Pepsi, 7-UP, Teem, Mirinda and Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi & Diet 7-Up, and a sophisticated quality control lab. It has also been certified for ISO 9001/2000 & HACCP. It will soon start Bottling Drinking Water under brand AQUAFINA which is presently produced in Lahore and marketed/sold by P.B.L. Through its subsidiary company, M/s. Yassir Fruit Juice Limited, it is manufacturing Juice under brand name Tropicana.
With the vision and the mission statement of continuing as one of the best managed Bottler of Pakistan's most popular soft drink PEPSI, Pakistan Beverage Limited is marching ahead and continues to provide superior quality range of carbonated soft drinks, Juices and Bottled Water to the consumers and high quality backup service to the customer in the market place.
As an extension and diversification in business, Pakistan Beverage Ltd, recently acquired a Dairy Plant (former Royal Dairy Products) which is now known as Pakola Products Limited, on the Super Highway. This plant is already producing Plain Milk and flavoured Milk in Eight (8) different flavours ie Mango, Rose, Pinacolada, Ice Cream, Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Banana & Zafran flavours. The response from the consumers for the new milk products has been very positive. It is also planned to add Yogurt, Cream etc to the range of the dairy products.
(The writer is Chief Executive/Managing Director, Pakistan Beverage Limited.)