Coca-Cola Reports 15% Increase in Net Income

Coca-Cola, the nation’s largest soft-drink company, announced that improved soda sales worldwide helped boost its second-quarter net income by 15% over a year ago.

The company said it earned $225 million in the three months ended June 30, compared to $196 million in the same period last year.

Revenue jumped 24.5% to $2.463 billion from $1.987 billion.

Coca-Cola Chairman Roberto C. Goizueta said the company’s worldwide soft-drink shipments increased 11% during the quarter.

“Our programs to build international per-capita consumption of soft drinks, along with continued solid performance by our other business sectors and favorable exchange rates, are generating strong profit growth,” Goizueta said.

Coca-Cola USA, the company’s domestic soft-drink arm, reported a 7% increase in shipments for the second quarter. International soft-drink volume rose 14%.

The firm’s entertainment business, which includes Columbia Pictures, advanced strongly due to a good performance from syndicated television programming and the addition of Merv Griffin Enterprises TV shows, Coca-Cola said.