July 19/Atlanta/Business Wire -- The Coca-Cola Company reports strong second quarter and year-to-date 2011 operating results, meeting or exceeding its long-term growth targets and gaining volume and value share in total NARTD beverages. Reported worldwide volume grew 6% in both the quarter and year-to-date. Excluding new cross-licensed brands in North America, primarily Dr Pepper brands, worldwide volume grew 5% in the quarter and year-to-date. The company achieved broad-based volume growth in the quarter across each of its five geographic operating groups, with growth of 7% in Eurasia and Africa, 7% in Pacific, 6% in Latin America, 5% in Europe and 4% in North America. Excluding new cross-licensed brands, North America volume was even in the quarter and grew 1% year-to-date.
In the quarter and year-to-date, the company grew global volume and value share in NARTD beverages, with share gains across most beverage categories. It continued to see growth in sparkling beverages, with worldwide brand Coca-Cola volume growth of 4% in the quarter driven by a number of global markets, including 24% in China, 17% in Russia, 7% in Mexico, 7% in France, 6% in Germany and 2% in Japan. Worldwide sparkling beverage volume grew 5% in the quarter (4% excluding new cross-licensed brands in North America), with international sparkling beverage volume growing 5%.