In a clear signal of its commitment to growing its business in Africa, the Coca-Cola Company is relocating its Africa group office from Windsor in the United Kingdom to Johannesburg, South Africa, beginning in January 2007, the company announced on Friday. The final move will be completed in June 2007.
More recently, “the Continent’s improving infrastructure, particularly its airline network, mobile telecommunications, and modern business infrastructure, has turned it into an attractive investment destination”, says Alex Cummings, president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola Africa.
The relocation of the Coca-Cola Africa group office to Johannesburg, South Africa, will integrate the group’s leadership with its 60Â 000 associates who make up the Coca-Cola System in Africa and bring the leadership closer to its customers, suppliers and business partners.
According to Cummings, “South Africa is our largest market, contributing a substantial share of our revenues and the infrastructure is well-developed with connections to many destinations in Africa as well as direct flights to the United States”.
“The move demonstrates The Coca-Cola Company’s confidence in Africa’s future business growth,” says Cummings.
The Coca-Cola Company has operated in Africa since 1928 when it first began manufacturing its beverages in South Africa. Since the start of the decade the company and its bottling partners have invested more than $600-million in plants, manufacturing and distribution in Africa.
“As part of its drive to step up the implementation of its global ‘Manifesto for Growth’, the company is committed to expanding its business by investing in plant equipment, job creation, entrepreneurship and wealth creation on the African continent,” says Neville Isdell, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company. — I-Net Bridge