The Coca-Cola system, consisting of The Coca-Cola Company and its authorized bottler Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, has announced its intention to grow its investment in Kenya by up to $175 million over the next five years, should the business achieve its anticipated growth targets in the country. This comes amidst a diplomatic trip by the president to the United States of America.
During a visit to the Coca-Cola Company’s headquarters in Atlanta, Sunil Gupta, CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, addressed the president echoing how Coca-Cola has been an integral part of Kenya’s landscape for more than 75 years.
Revealing his excitement to announce the company’s intention to strengthen this legacy through a substantial investment in the country.
“This investment is aimed at accelerating the Coca-Cola system’s capacity and capability expansion over the next five years. Our decision to invest underscores our belief in the long-term potential of Kenya’s economy,” Gupta said.
This investment is aimed at accelerating the Coca-Cola system’s capacity and capability expansion over the next five years
Luisa Ortega, President of The Coca-Cola Company’s Africa Operating Unit, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the government as it then opened the conversation about the creation of a stable policy environment.
“The Coca-Cola system has been part of communities in Kenya for more than seven decades. We are excited to continue growing our business and supporting communities across Kenya for many years to come,” said Ortega.
The Coca-Cola system has a rich legacy of refreshing Africa and making a difference in the East Africa region, where it is a major employer, directly employing 10,000 people.
The Coca-Cola system also works with over 500,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises across the region, giving the company a direct connection to the experiences shared by many businesses in Kenya and across the East African region.
“Our value chain supports livelihoods for over a million people in distribution, sales, and other roles,” said Gupta. “We source close to 8,000 metric tons of mango puree from East African farmers. We believe in the region’s potential and its ability to achieve significant growth through collaboration between public and private sectors. Our business in Kenya is centered on a local approach – we hire locally, produce locally, distribute locally, and source locally.”
“We are optimistic and fully committed to Kenya’s future. We foresee great social and economic advancement, and this is why we continue to invest in our Kenyan business as well as community programs that help strengthen Kenya’s prosperity,” Ortega concluded.
