- Across 54 African markets, Coca-Cola contributed $10.4 billion in economic activity across its value chain in 2024.
- The beverage giant’s value chain supported over 1 million jobs in retail, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and services in Africa.
- Soft drinks maker purchased $4.3 billion from suppliers in Africa in 2024, representing 83% of the system’s total procurement on the continent.
A new market report shows that beverage multinational Coca-Cola contributed $10.4 billion in its economic value chain across Africa in 2024. The report, which was unveiled at the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola, shows taht Coca-Cola is also increasingly positioning itself as a catalyst for inclusive growth.
Behind every bottle of Coke sipped on a warm afternoon in Lagos or a Fanta shared in Nairobi’s bustling markets lies a vast economic engine — one that stretches from local sugarcane fields to high-tech distribution hubs.
The study, conducted by the global consultancy Steward Redqueen, reveals that the soft drinks giant and its bottling partners supported over one million jobs across Africa in 2024. From retailers and truck drivers to factory workers and farmers, the company system’s economic footprint is both deep and wide.
Jobs within Coca-Cola value chain
What’s even more remarkable is the multiplier effect. For every direct job created within the Coca-Cola system — some 36,800 in total — another 27 jobs were supported indirectly across the value chain. It’s a living example of how smart partnerships and strategic investment can ignite entire ecosystems, breathing life into local industries and livelihoods.
Beyond job creation, the beverage giant’s commitment to Africa took shape through $4.3 billion in local procurement, amounting to 83 per cent of its total purchases. This means more African suppliers, more homegrown talent, and more resilience in the continent’s supply chains — a strong signal of trust in Africa’s ability to deliver quality, at scale.
“Our long-standing presence in Africa, working with locally owned bottlers and suppliers, allows us to drive more sustainable growth and contribute to the continent’s development,” said Luisa Ortega, president of the Africa operating unit of The Coca-Cola Company. “Our unique operating model allows us to make a lasting impact in local communities.”
The company’s portfolio in Africa includes a wide range of brands in several beverage categories. Ingredients and packaging used by the company in Africa are mostly locally sourced, supplied, produced, manufactured and distributed.
“The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to Africa remains steadfast,” Ortega said. “The Coca-Cola system has announced investments of nearly $1.2 billion on the continent over the next five years, and we are hopeful that stable and predictable policy environments will enable more investments in the months and years ahead. Additionally, the Coca-Cola system will invest nearly $25 million by 2030 to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African markets.”
Sustainable development
This study highlights the Coca-Cola system’s role in Africa’s long-term growth and driving more sustainable development across the continent. The approach adopted by Steward Redqueen integrates client-provided operational data with trusted third-party economic sources and industry benchmarks.
More than just measuring direct contributions, the analysis uncovers economic interlinkages, showing how the firm drives production, generates income, and supports employment across a spectrum of industries and geographies.
Teodora Nenova, Managing Partner at Steward Redqueen added: “Our impact assessment reveals the wide-reaching economic footprint of the Coca-Cola system across Africa. The findings highlight the scale of the Coca-Cola system’s local presence and its ongoing contribution to economic opportunity and livelihoods across the continent.”
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