Business Plan for Coconut Beverages Manufacturing

What is a coconut beverage?
Coconut beverages (also coconut water) is the clear liquid inside coconuts (fruits of the coconut palm). In early development, it serves as a suspension for the endosperm of the coconut during the nuclear phase of development. As growth continues, the endosperm matures into its cellular phase and deposits into the rind of the coconut pulp. The liquid inside young coconuts is often preferred to the liquid of a ripened coconut. Coconut water from young green coconuts is also known specifically as buko juice in Philippine English.

Uses of Coconut Beverages/Water
Coconut is one of the greatest gifts of nature to man because it produces a wide range of products. Agriculturists classify coconut as a drupe which is a fruit, a nut and a seed in one. Commonly referred to as the ?tree of life?, coconut has a wide range of uses.
Plain coconut water has long been a popular drink in tropical countries, where it is available fresh, canned, or bottled.
Coconut water can be fermented to produce coconut vinegar. It is also used to make nata de coco, a jelly-like food. Coconut water has also gained popularity over the last few years not only as refreshment but also as a sports drink.

Customer Analysis
The main users of coconut beverages/water are households or individuals, manufacturers of beverages.

Industry
Coconuts for drinking are served chilled, fresh, or packaged. They are often sold by street vendors who cut them open with machetes or similar implements in front of customers. Coconut water for retail can be found in ordinary aluminum cans, Tetra Paks, glass bottles or plastic bottles, sometimes with coconut pulp or coconut jelly included.
The main producers of Coconut beverages in Nigeria are:
Street vendors (artisanal production), Chivita Limited, Arla food, Nestle, Coca cola.

The Business Opportunity
Since 2007, over 60 million metric tons of coconuts have been produced worldwide annually. A wide range of coconut products are internationally traded. There are more than 50 unprocessed, semi processed or processed coconut products entering the international markets in small and big quantities.
This business plan provides the information needed to make decisions about starting a coconut beverages manufacturing plant. It is designed to attract investors to the business.