Coca-Cola India (CCI) is planning to launch its largest selling cola brand, Thums Up, in neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal as part of its expansion in South-West Asia (SWA).

Scheduled to be launched by the end of March this year in SWA, Thums Up is expected to become the first-ever Cola beverage brand from India to reach sales of $1bn by 2020.

“We are taking key steps towards making India the fifth largest market for Coca-Cola Company globally by giving the consumers more beverage choices.”

Thums Up was initially introduced in 1977 and acquired by The Coca-Cola Company in 1993.

Coca-Cola India and SWA unit president Krishnakumar said: “Coca-Cola India is accelerating forward towards becoming a total beverage company by broadening its product portfolio and entering new product categories in India.

“We are taking key steps towards making India the fifth largest market for Coca-Cola Company globally by giving the consumers more beverage choices.

“The launch of Thums Up in SWA market is a key milestone towards speeding the brand’s journey to become the first home-grown billion-dollar beverage brand.”

Last November, CCI had expanded the brand by launching the new Thums Up Charged variant in order to offer more beverage choices to its consumers.

The new Thums Up Charged was offered in different packaging formats, including 180ml, 200ml, 300ml and 330ml cans, as well as 250ml, 400ml, and 500ml polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.