Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Proprietary Limited (CCBA), through its subsidiary Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited (CCBM), has invested USD14.9 million in a new state-of-the art production line in Lilongwe.
This investment marks a significant advancement in CCBM’s production capacity, allowing it to produce bottled water and beverages bearing Coca-Cola’s trademarks as well as the iconic local brand Sobo, all on the same line.
The line is capable of producing 19,200 bottles per hour in pack sizes ranging from 300ml to 2 litres. This increase in production will facilitate the export of beverages to Zambia.
The new production line uses artificial intelligence (AI) to proactively identify and resolve issues before they cause stoppages, thereby minimising downtime and reducing costs.
The introduction of new technology has also created the opportunity for employees to be trained in new skills, contributing to the development of a future-ready workforce for both the business and the country.
Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of CCBA said: “This investment in Malawi reaffirms the Coca-Cola system’s local approach – we produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally. Our value chain includes a significant number of businesses, many of them small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”
“This investment goes beyond numbers, it’s about creating shared opportunities across the value chain,” said Neil French, General Manager of CCBM.
Gupta echoed the sentiment, adding: “This investment is a clear demonstration of our continued belief in the future of Malawi.”
Gupta also highlighted CCBA’s broader efforts: “As a customer centric, digitally-enabled, growth-driven business, we are committed to excellence across our value chain. Efficient operations allow us to offer faster delivery and improved service. This new production line is another step in our journey to achieve execution excellence.”
Africa Fact: Malian sailors got to America in 1311 AD, 181 years before Columbus. An Egyptian scholar, Ibn Fadl Al-Umari, published on this sometime around 1342. In the tenth chapter of his book, there is an account of two large maritime voyages ordered by the predecessor of Mansa Musa, a king who inherited the Malian throne in 1312. This mariner king is not named by Al-Umari, but modern writers identify him as Mansa Abubakari II.
Killer Curio
Nunu Ntshingila had humble beginnings in Soweto, she started out her corporate life with no creative know-how, but determination to learn and grow. After working her way up the corporate ladder, she became Chairman at Ogilvy & Mather South Africa, one of the largest advertising agencies in Africa. She went on to be inducted into the Creative Hall of Fame, and the first woman to be inducted into the Loeries Hall of Fame. This achievement put her in the perfect position to say \”yes\’ when offered to be the head of Facebook for Africa.