The Coca Cola system, which includes The Coca Cola Company and its bottler Coca Cola Beverages Africa, has announced plans to invest up to $175 million in Kenya over the next five years, contingent on achieving anticipated growth targets.
Sunil Gupta, CEO of Coca Cola Beverages Africa, made the announcement while hosting Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto at The Coca Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta. Gupta stated, “The Coca Cola system has been an integral part of Kenya’s landscape for more than 75 years. Today, we are excited to announce our intention to strengthen this legacy through a substantial investment.”
The planned investment aims to enhance the Coca Cola system’s capacity and capabilities in Kenya. Gupta highlighted the company’s belief in Kenya’s long-term economic potential as a key reason for the investment.
Luisa Ortega, President of The Coca Cola Company’s Africa Operating Unit, stressed the importance of collaboration with the Kenyan government to ensure 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,” Ortega said.
The Coca Cola system is a significant employer in East Africa, directly employing 10,000 people. It also collaborates with over 500,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises, providing a vital connection to the local business community. “Our value chain supports livelihoods for over a million people in distribution, sales, and other roles,” Gupta noted. “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.”
Ortega reiterated the company’s commitment to Kenya’s future, emphasizing both social and economic development. “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,” she concluded.