Coca-Cola Amatil To Invest $10M Garnering Business Innovation Ideas

The Australian unit of Coca-Cola hopes to partner with the country’s entrepreneurs and start-ups to invigorate its business as consumers spurn sugary sodas. Coca-Cola Amatil will invest as much as $10 million in emerging companies with good ideas on business improvements that could lead to new revenue streams. The basic idea is to catalyze business innovation, according to chief executive Alison Watkins, but not in beverages or products. The company’s new venture, dubbed Amatil X, wants to focus on improving the ways it deals with retailers that stock its products, under the broad themes of sustainability, use of customer information, and delivery.