Switzerland: Coca-Cola HBC acquires controlling stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa

Coca-Cola and Gutsche Family Investments (GFI) have announced the sale of a 75% controlling stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) to Swiss bottler Coca-Cola HBC for $2.6 billion.

CCBA is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Africa, operating in 14 countries and handling 40% of Coca-Cola’s product volume on the continent.

Commenting on the move, Coca-Cola executive vice president and chief operating officer Henrique Braun said: “Coca-Cola HBC has demonstrated a strong track record of growing our system across Africa, having strong market share growth in Egypt and realizing strong volume and share growth in Nigeria over the past several years. We are pleased with Coca-Cola HBC’s continued and aligned investment in the Coca-Cola system and in taking another significant step forward in the refranchising of company-owned bottling operations”.

GFI chairman Philipp Hugo Gutsche added: “For more than eight decades, the Gutsche family has been dedicated to developing the Coca-Cola business across Southern and Eastern Africa. Coca-Cola HBC is the ideal partner to carry the CCBA business forward and to realize their shared vision for the Coca-Cola system on the continent”.

Coca-Cola HBC CEO Zoran Bogdanovic said: “We believe we can unlock this growth and create value for our shareholders by leveraging our best-in-class bespoke capabilities, commercial expertise and industry-leading approach to sustainability. We appreciate the trust placed in us by Coca-Cola and GFI and look forward to welcoming the CCBA team to Coca-Cola HBC and driving joint success”.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Source: Coca-Cola