Coca‑Cola will invest R17.6 billion (about $1 billion) in South Africa by 2030 in a move aimed at expanding production capacity, strengthening distribution and accelerating product innovation.
The commitment was unveiled on Wednesday by Luis Felipe Avellar, president of Coca‑Cola’s Africa operating unit, at the South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg.
“Our R17.6 billion investment reflects our strong belief in South Africa’s potential and our commitment to growing alongside the communities we serve,” Avellar said.
“We hire locally, produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally, helping to build a stronger, more integrated economy in South Africa.”
Coca‑Cola and its authorised bottlers – Coca‑Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca‑Cola Peninsula Beverages – have operated in the country for nearly a century.
Avellar said the new investment would reinforce the system’s local footprint, which includes hiring, producing, distributing and sourcing largely within South Africa.
The announcement followed the release of a socio‑economic impact study by consulting firm Steward Redqueen, which found that the Coca‑Cola system contributed R51.2 billion in value‑added economic activity in 2024.
The study estimated that more than 87,000 jobs were supported across sectors such as retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services, including 7,822 direct jobs.
For every direct job, the system supported an additional 10 jobs in the wider economy.
The research also highlighted strong local procurement, with R25.6 billion in goods and services sourced from South African suppliers last year, supporting industries from sugar production to packaging and logistics.
JN/APA