New Delhi, 01 July 2024.

Coca-Cola India and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) showcase their unwavering commitment towards reshaping the retail landscape in Odisha with the Super Power Retailer Program. In the span of seven months, over 14000 retailers have been empowered through the initiative including women retailers.

This remarkable programme was launched by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Union Minister for Education and the former Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship,on October 15^th 2023, and it aims to bring a positive transformation in the retail community of the state.

Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC Internationalsaid, “Looking at the retail landscape rapidly evolving with the integration of technology, we are invested in upskilling our retailers by building their capacity and capability. I am confident that this partnership with Coca-Cola India will play a key role in equipping the beneficiaries with necessary knowledge to expand their businesses and enhance consumer experiences, ultimately strengthening India’s economy. Moreover, the integration of SIDH(Skill India Digital Hub) will ensure that the learners will have access to digital content, enabling them to acquire in-demand skills anytime, anywhere digitally.”

On the progress of the initiative, Irene Tan, Vice President, Human Resources, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, said, “At Coca-Cola, we strive to create a conducive and enabling environment forretailers, allowing them to expand their businesses and enhance consumer experiences.The SuperPower Retailer program showcases our commitment towards positively impactingsocieties. Our partnership with Skill India Mission underlines innovative delivery of industry-specific skills in the retailer community, opening doors of opportunity for all."

The SuperPower Retailer Program offers industry-specific skills such as customer management, inventory and stock management, financial management and more that are tailored to the professional needs of retailers, making the retailers proficient and enhancing their knowledge. The participation ofwomen in retailer program demonstrates Coca-Cola India’s commitment to driving change, fosteringgender diversity and boosting employment prospects.

As part of the program,a combination ofclassroom training sessionsin Odisha and anonline certification programacross India led to the participation of 14000retailers. The training delivered in local language enabled small shopkeepers and big businessmen to expand theirreach, improve accessibility,and better adapt to changing market trends.