Thank you for the invitation. It was an honour to participate in the US-Africa Business Summit, which has become a crucial platform for fostering collaboration and dialogue between African nations and the United States. This summit offered a timely opportunity to share the findings of the socio-economic impact study - a reflection of our enduring presence and support for Africa's development over the decades.
The Coca-Cola system's journey in Africa began in 1928. Since then, we've grown into a system that operates across Africa, anchored by collaboration with our authorised bottlers, thousands of suppliers, retailers and entrepreneurs. We're deeply rooted in communities, with a model that creates jobs, strengthens local industries and uplifts communities. We source locally, produce locally and distribute locally, helping to build stronger, more integrated and prosperous economies in Africa, and everywhere we operate around the world. And at the heart of it all is our purpose: to refresh the world and make a difference - a purpose that guides every decision we make.
The last time the Coca-Cola system conducted a continent-wide socio-economic assessment was in 1998 - and much has changed since then.
That's why we worked with the global consultancy Steward Redqueen to conduct the study. Using advanced modelling tools, Steward Redqueen measured the Coca-Cola system's impact across sectors and regions in 2024 - giving us a clear view of how we contribute to national and regional development. The approach also integrated client-provided operational data with trusted third-party economic sources and industry benchmarks. More than just measuring direct contributions, the analysis uncovered economic interlinkages - showing how the Coca-Cola system drives production, generates income and supports employment across industries.
What were the key findings from the Coca-Cola system's Africa-wide socio-economic impact study?The findings of the study were significant. In 2024, the Coca-Cola system supported more than 1m jobs across its value chain on the continent in sectors like retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services. This included 36,800 direct Coca-Cola system jobs, plus 987,000 indirect jobs that are supported across the value chain, meaning the system collectively supported 27 additional jobs for every job it directly creates.