Africa’s largest Coca-Cola bottler begins operations

Africa’s largest bottler, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), on Monday opened its doors for the first day of operations.

CCBA was formed in 2014 through the combination of African non-alcoholic ready-to-drink bottling interests of SABMiller, the Coca-Cola Company, and Gutsche Family Investments – majority shareholders in Coca-Cola Sabco.

The new company, which is the 10th largest Coca-Cola bottler worldwide, would produce and distribute approximately 40% of all Coca-Cola beverage volumes in Africa.

Headquartered in South Africa, CCBA would manufacture and sell 40 still and sparkling brands from more than 30 African bottling plants.

CCBA would serve 14 high-growth countries including Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ghana, Mayotte, Comoros and Nigeria. Botswana, Swaziland and Zambia are expected to be included in the next 12 to 18 months.

Doug Jackson, chief executive of CCBA said the creation of CCBA provides a stronger, more successful Coca-Cola system in Africa.

"We will also seek to be a critical part of our customers’ growth strategies and invest substantially in our people and in their growth and development to build both capacity and capability," Jackson said in a statement.

"As one operation, CCBA will better serve our consumers and communities in Africa, offering consumers greater choice, broader availability and better value."