In bad times, it pays to have an inexpensive product: Coke

Once again, Coca-Cola’s performance shows that when you have a relatively inexpensive product that you sell around the globe, you can make money in tough times. Lots of it.

Coca-Cola Co.’s second-quarter results beat analysts’ predictions as international markets, such as China, India, Mexico and Brazil, boosted its case-sales volume, AJC reporter Joe Guy Collier writes today.

The Atlanta-based beverage giant reported second-quarter profit of $2.05 billion, or 88 cents a share. That’s up more than 40 percent from the same period last year. Excluding one-time items, Coca-Cola had second-quarter earnings of 92 cents a share, down 9 percent from a year ago, but still beating analyst projections.

Global case sales — a key performance measure — rose 5 percent for the quarter. That’s during a worldwide recession.

Again, North America was the only region for Coca-Cola to report a decline in unit case volume for the quarter. It was down 1 percent.

Playing in 200 countries, as Coke has been doing for many years, traditionally cushions the company during bad times.