Coca-Cola is understood to be examining the possibility of opening another plant in Ireland. However, it is understood that the company is not keen to expand its existing plant in Drogheda. Recent industrial unrest there is thought to have undermined relationships.

The dispute was over a complex reorganisation plan which the company said was essential to its long-term viability.

The planned expansion is at an early stage but could involve several hundred jobs. However, sources close to the company played down the size of the expansion. Coca-Cola is one of Drogheda's largest employers, employing 265 workers.

Last January Coca-Cola Atlantic announced that 100 jobs would be lost at the Drogheda plant through voluntary redundancies and early retirement.

Together with private company arms owned by Greece's AG Levintis, Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and Coca-Cola Bottlers Ulster, the franchises employs 1,313 people in Ireland.

The company is understood to be looking at preliminary locations in Wexford and in Cork, although that could not be confirmed.

A spokesman for Coca-Cola would say only that the company was constantly evaluating its production capacity needs, in light of increasing demand for its products around the world. She added that it would be inappropriate at this time to speculate on rumours about expansion plans.

A spokesman for Forbairt said the agency is in discussions with a number of overseas companies as part of its responsibility for the food and natural resources area. However, he declined to comment on the proposed expansion, citing client confidentiality.

In 1996 Coca-Cola sold a record 465 million bottles, putting its total share of the fizzy drinks market at 45.2 per cent.