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Sabah Times (Friday, January 30, 1981) KOTA KINABALU, Thurs – Gardenia Beverage Sendirian Berhad, a subsidiary of the Tong Hing Group today “created history” and put Sabah on the international map of soft drinks production.

Gardenia today started its production of Pepsi Cola and Mirinda soft drinks at its own factory at Putatan.

With the introduction of the soft drinks, it cemented the link between Sabah’s famous company, Tong Hing Group, with Pepsi Company International, one of the world’s biggest international corporations.

According to a spokesman, Gardenia Beverage acquired the Pepsi Co franchise for the state of Sabah in 1978.

The factory situated at mile 6 1/2, Kota Kinabalu-Putatan Road (about 10 Kilometers from Kota Kinabalu) is the first Sabahan owned soft drink factory in Malaysia.

It build to the international standards specified by Pepsi Co International.

It was designed by Mr K.H. Wong of Kota Kinabalu, an Associate British Architect, in association with Kumpulan Karim Lai Architects of Kuala Lumpur.

The project was developed by Tong Yuen Developmen Sdn Bhd.

The factory is therefore unique in that it is owned designed and built by Sabahans. Total investments for the projects amounted to over $6 million.

Pepsi Cola, the best selling international brand of soft drink in Asean countries is a product of Pepsi Co of America.

The company has diversified interest in beverages, fast foods, snack foods, sport goods (Wilson brands) and transportation services.

It’s total sales of U.S. $5 billion in 1979 is higher than any other soft drinks company on the world. From its humble beginnings, Pepsi Co today employs over 100,000 people. It owns 34 bottling plants in 8 countries and has 600 franchised bottlers in 126 countries. At the Putatan factory itself, the company is employing more than 50 workers and most of them are local residents.

Gardenia will be in its full swing to introduce the new soft drinks to the people of Sabah from today.

Tong Hing Holdings and Pepsi Co International had managed to join hands to provide a unique first to meet Sabah’s thirst.