The world's largest beverages firm, Coca Cola, has injected in excess of $100 million into Zimbabwe over the past three years, The Financial Gazette reported.
Coca Cola's business in Zimbabwe comprises of the Coca Cola Company and three bottling partners - Delta Beverages, Schweppes Zimbabwe and Mutare Bottling Company. Noma Halimana, senior operations and marketing manager for Zimbabwe, said the capital investment was key to the company's business continuity.
"We have invested in excess of $100 million in new plants, equipment and new products over the past three years," said Halimana.
"We understand that the economic, environmental and social implications of our business are core to our business continuity and how we create long-term value. Our system and partners play a critical role whether purchasing ingredients from our suppliers, creating our beverages, serving customers and consumers or supporting the communities in which we operate, we strive to be a force for lasting positive change."
The investment in the country included the construction of a new glass bottling line at Delta Beverages' Graniteside plant, new PET factory at Bon Accord in Bulawayo, water purification systems and upgrading of bottling plants at both Graniteside and Belmont in Bulawayo.
In addition, Coca Cola invested in the hot fill line for juice drinks, cold drink equipment, factory upgrades and delivery fleet at Schweppes Zimbabwe while a partial investment in a new bottle line, cold drink equipment and containers was done at Mutare Bottling Company. The investment also included projects undertaken by contracted suppliers of trademark packaging materials.
She said the success of the Coca Cola business has always been intrinsically linked to the strength and sustainability of the communities in which the company operates. Halimana stressed that the company's increased long-term investment in state-of-the-art machinery, cold drink equipment, new product and packaging innovations, research, logistics and distribution infrastructure at the company's three bottling partners was a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to Zimbabwe.
"Every day, the actions taken by our company and bottling partners touch billions of lives. This is only made possible by the essential . . . partnerships we establish in each country and in each community.
"Zimbabwe is one of our salient examples of such a virtuous relationship and we remain very positive about our outlook for our operations in the country."
New product innovations by the Coca Cola Company in the country include the Minute Maid range, Minute Maid Pulpy and BURN, an energy drink. This complements all the existing core flavours such as Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Sparleta and others while Mazoe, the Zimbabwean heritage drink and the company's water brands continue to be a favourite for many shoppers.
Coca Cola operates in 208 countries and has more than 300 bottling partners worldwide and markets more than 500 brands and 3 300 beverage products. It remains one of the largest employers on the African continent directly employing 68 000 associates in 160 plants across the continent and engaging 900 000 system retail partners.
- fingaz
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