Refreshing African Economies, One Community at a Time

Our History

Our company started in 1886 and grew with a purpose to refresh the world. This became refreshment not just in a physical sense but also in spirit, and not just to refresh people but also communities.

LOVED BRANDS. We craft meaningful brands and a choice of drinks that people love and that refresh them in body and spirit.

DONE SUSTAINABLY. We grow our business in ways that achieve positive change in the world and build a more sustainable future for our planet.

FOR A BETTER SHARED FUTURE. We invest to improve people’s lives, from our employees to all those who touch our business system, to our investors, to the broad communities we call home.

The Coca‑Cola System

• We are a global business deeply rooted in Africa, operating at a local scale in every community we serve. Our system of authorized bottling partners works with thousands of suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers across 54 African markets. This network enables us to create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and support economic growth across the continent.
• Our purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference, especially for the communities in which we operate. You can see that in the way we operate in every market, including in Africa where we work hard to support our communities.
• Our vision is to craft the brands and choice of drinks that people love, to refresh them in body and spirit. We do this in ways that create a more sustainable business that makes a difference in people’s lives, communities and our planet.
• We’re an integral part of Africa’s story. With a presence in most markets, Coca‑Cola has been investing in Africa’s people and communities for nearly a century. We source mostly local ingredients, manufacture within the region, and distribute through extensive local networks. 
• Our interconnected system supports employment and economic empowerment across Africa. Through our operations and value chain, we contribute significantly to Africa’s economy by supporting livelihoods in the retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services sectors in Africa.
• The Coca‑Cola system’s business is centered on a local approach: We hire locally, produce locally, distribute locally and source locally as much as we can.

The Coca‑Cola System Value Chain: A Local Footprint Driving Growth Across Africa

• Measuring impact: In 2024, a comprehensive socio-economic impact study for Africa was conducted with global consultancy Steward Redqueen. The study measured Coca‑Cola’s contributions across sectors and regions, which allows us to have a more robust and transparent picture of how our activities contribute to national and regional development.
• A multi-layered impact: The Coca‑Cola System, made up of authorised bottlers working with a wide network of suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers, contributed $10.4 billion in value added economic activity across Africa, reflecting our impact across multiple sectors in the 54 markets surveyed. 
• Job creation at scale: The Coca‑Cola System supported more than 1 million jobs across the continent across its value chain in sectors like retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport, and services. This included more than 36,800 direct system jobs and 987,000 jobs that were supported across the value chain. 
• Economic empowerment across Africa: With our locally authorized bottlers, we drive entrepreneurship and job creation, which significantly fosters economic growth within African communities. In fact, the system collectively supported 27 additional jobs across our value chain for every job it directly created in 2024. 
• Supporting African businesses: Ingredients and packaging used by the Coca‑Cola system in Africa are mostly sourced, supplied, produced, manufactured and distributed in Africa. The system invested $4.3 billion in the African economy through the purchase of goods and services from local suppliers, representing 83% of the system’s total procurement.
• Making a difference: Our contributions extend beyond business as we invest in initiatives that help uplift communities, including programs focused on water, packaging, emissions, and the economic empowerment of women and youth. 
• Investment for growth: The Coca‑Cola System announced nearly $1.2 billion in investments across Africa over the next five years, and we are hopeful that stable and predictable policy environments will enable more investments in the months and years ahead. Additionally, we’re investing $25 million by 2030 to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African markets to help safeguard vital watersheds and improve access to clean water.

Coca‑Cola in Africa: Creating Shared Value for a Growing Continent
 

The Coca‑Cola system has been deeply invested in Africa’s people and communities for almost 100 years. Our presence spans 54 African markets, supported by a network of 30 locally authorized bottling partners who work with thousands of suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. 
 

Our purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference, especially for the communities in which we operate. We source locally, manufacture locally, and distribute locally—ensuring that the benefits of our business stay rooted in the communities we serve.
 

In 2024, a comprehensive Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, conducted by global consultancy Steward Redqueen, confirmed what we’ve long known: Coca‑Cola is an integral part of Africa’s growth story. Our system contributed $10.4 billion in value-added economic activity across the continent and supported more than 1 million jobs across retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport, and services. For every job within our system, 27 additional jobs were supported across the value chain.
 

We spent $4.3 billion on local suppliers—83% of our total procurement—reinforcing our commitment to driving inclusive economic empowerment. From the ingredients in our products to the packaging and delivery, our value chain is powered by African enterprise.
 

Our model is unique and proven: The Coca‑Cola Company provides proprietary concentrates, which are purchased and transformed into beverages by our local bottlers. These are then distributed through local networks and sold by local retailers—creating a powerful ripple effect that uplifts communities and fosters local entrepreneurship.
 

But our impact extends beyond business. As a total beverage company, we invest in initiatives that help build resilient communities—from $25 million in water-related investments across 20 African markets by 2030, to programmes that advance sustainability, reduce emissions, and support youth and women entrepreneurs.
 

Looking ahead, the Coca‑Cola System has announced nearly $1.2 billion in new investments across Africa over the next five years. These investments reflect our confidence in the continent’s potential—and our belief that Africa’s growth is our growth.
 

At Coca‑Cola, we believe in Africa’s future. With a nearly century-long presence, our business is not just in Africa—it is of Africa. Together with our partners in government, civil society, and the private sector, we are committed to unlocking the continent’s full potential—refreshing the African economy, one community at a time.