South Africa: Coca-Cola Beverages Africa invests in Malawi

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the Coca-Cola bottler, has invested $14.9 million in a new production line in the Malawian capital Lilongwe through its subsidiary Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited (CCBM).

This investment has reportedly boosted CCBM’s production capacity, enabling the bottling of Coca-Cola brand beverages and the Sobo brand on a single line. The system produces 19,200 bottles per hour, in sizes from 300ml to 2 litres, also enabling the company to expand exports to Zambia.

The production line is said to use artificial intelligence (AI) to continuously monitor operations, reducing downtime and enhancing cost efficiency.

Commenting on the move, CCBA chief executive officer Sunil Gupta said: “This investment in Malawi reaffirms the Coca-Cola system’s local approach – we produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally. […] 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”.

Source: Coca-Cola Beverages Africa