drove still beverage volume growth. 

Unit case volume in North America decreased 2 percent, which reflected the impact of a difficult U.S. economic environment and a competitive pricing environment. The effect of the economic environment and pricing environment was partially offset by the impact of strong customer and consumer programs. North America's unit case volume decline consisted of a 3 percent decline in sparkling beverages, partially offset by 1 percent growth in still beverages. The decline in sparkling beverages was partly attributable to the significant price increase taken by bottlers in the fourth quarter of 2008. The decline was partially offset by the continued strong performance of Coca-Cola Zero, which had unit case volume growth of 19 percent. Still beverage unit case volume growth was primarily due to the strong performance of Fuze Beverage, LLC ("Fuze"), Trademark Simply and tea. The unit case volume growth in still beverages was reduced by a double-digit volume decline in the North American water businesses, including Trademark Dasani, primarily due to the slowing water category and the Company's decision to not pursue unprofitable volume opportunities in bulk water/case packs in North America. 

In Pacific, unit case volume increased 7 percent, which consisted of growth in sparkling and still beverages of 6 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Sparkling beverage growth in Pacific included 14 percent growth in Trademark Sprite and 5 percent growth in Trademark Coca-Cola. The group's volume growth was led by 16 percent growth in China, which reflected 11 percent growth in sparkling beverages and 30 percent growth in still beverages. China's sparkling beverage volume growth was led by double-digit growth in Trademark Sprite and 6 percent growth in Trademark Coca-Cola. China's still beverage volume growth was led by double-digit growth in Minute Maid. The unit case volume growth in China was partially offset by a 2 percent volume decline in Japan, primarily due to the continued severe economic challenges and unfavorable weather conditions during what are traditionally high-volume months. Sparkling beverage volume in Japan was even, while still beverages declined 3 percent. The decline in still beverages included the impact of a 5 percent volume decline in Aquarius and a 3 percent decline in Georgia Coffee. Due to the weak economy, Georgia Coffee was negatively impacted by shifts away from the at-work vending channel. The group's volume increase also included a 1 percent increase in the Philippines. 

Unit case volume for Bottling Investments increased 2 percent, primarily due to the impact of unit case volume growth of 16 percent in China, 31 percent in India and 1 percent in the Philippines. The Company's consolidated bottling operations account for approximately 33 percent, 65 percent and 100 percent of the unit case volume in China, India and the Philippines, respectively. The favorable impact of unit case volume in these markets was partially offset by the sale of certain bottling operations during 2008, including Refrigerantes Minas Gerais Ltda. ("Remil"), a bottler in Brazil, and the sale of a portion of our