Corporación Lindley S.A.

Arca Continental Lindley S.A. (also known as Corporación José R. Lindley S.A. or the Lindley Corporation) is a Peruvian company involved in the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of nonalcoholic beverages and the official bottler and distributor of all Coca-Cola products in Peru. The Lindley Corporation is best known for its creation and marketing of Inca Kola, the number one selling soft drink in Peru. The Lindley Corporation, located in the historic District of Lima, Peru, is also a major promoter of plastic recycling programs in Peru. Its president is Johnny Lindley Suarez.
In 1910, a young English couple, Don José Robinson Lindley and Martha Stoppanie de Lindley, immigrated to Peru and settled in the Rimac District of Lima. Starting in 1910, the Lindley's company operated in a 200 square meter building as Santa Rosa of José R. Lindley and Sons S.A. (Santa Rosa de José R. Lindley e Hijos S.A.). In 1918, they purchased their first semi-automatic bottling system which increased productivity dramatically. By 1928, their production facility had increased to 1,400 square meters, and all new equipment had been purchased.
In 1935, the corporation launched the Inca Kola brand to mark the fourth centenary of the founding of the city of Lima. In 1945, the Lindley Corporation expanded its distribution and marketing nationwide in Peru—the Inca Kola brand has completely covered the entire country since 1972. In 1983, the company launched PET plastic bottles in 1 liter, 1.5 liter, and 2 liters and in 1996 the Lindley Corporation became fully automated and computerized with the purchase of a German bottling system called Krones.
From 1957 to 1973 other companies were formed to perform support functions for the Lindley Corporation. Distribución, Transporte y Almacenaje S.A. (Distral S.A.) was incorporated on February 1, 1957, to handle the distribution and transportation of soft drinks, fruit juices and nectars. Inmobiliaria Lintab S.A. was incorporated on February 22, 1960, to manage the real estate holdings of the company. Frutos del País S.A. was incorporated on May 25, 1973, and is dedicated to the manufacturing and marketing of juices, nectars and fruit pulp.
In 1996 the various companies were combined into one. On December 4, 1996, Inmobiliaria Lintab SA, absorbed by merger the following companies: José R. Lindley e Hijos S.A., Frutos del País S.A., Distral S.A. and Sabores Perú S.A., the industrial activities branch of the group. In 1997, Inmobiliaria Lintab S.A. changed its name to the Corporación José R. Lindley S.A. In 2001, the Lindley Corporation acquired the entire common stock with voting rights representing the capital stock of EPSA and Embotelladora La Selva S.A.
In 1999, the Lindley Corporation developed a strategic alliance with The Coca-Cola Company. In 2000 the Lindley Corporation entered the Coca-Cola system, but with the market divided between competing bottler Embotelladora Latinoamericana SA (ELSA) and the Lindley Corporation, the situation generated significant operating inefficiencies by both companies competing to reach the same customers through the same channels.
In 2004, the Lindley Corporation acquired Embotelladora Latinoamericana SA (ELSA) through shareholdings enabling the company to optimize the use of resources, improve commercial performance of the system, and create a stronger competitive position. In the September 2005 General Meeting of the Lindley Corporation, the board decided to absorb the entire estate of ELSA, thus dissolving ELSA. Following this decision Corporacion Jose R. Lindley took over the franchise exclusively with The Coca-Cola Company for the production, distribution and sale of Coca-Cola soft drink products that were held by ELSA.
From 2006 to 2009 the Lindley Corporation continued to lead the recovery of soft drink industry's value, reaching prices of 2.4 nuevo soles (PEN) per liter, similar to 1999 levels. Significant investment has been made in marketing, packaging operations, point of sale programs, the introduction of cooling equipment in retail stores, and successful launches of new products. The Lindley Corporation achieved 65.7 percent market share and 73 percent value share in 2009. In 2010, the Lindley Corporation celebrated 100 years in the soft drink business.