Coca-Cola system in South Africa generates economic impact of R51.2 billion
While Coca-Cola is best known for its flagship soft drink, the broader ecosystem surrounding the brand plays a significant role in South Africa’s economy. According to a new study by consulting firm Steward Redqueen, the Coca-Cola system generates more than R51.2 billion in value-added economic activity.
The study conducted by Steward Redqueen, a Netherlands headquartered economic consulting firm, measured the direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts of the Coca-Cola system in South Africa, combining company operational data with trusted third-party economic sources.
The socio-economic impact study demonstrates how Coca-Cola’s local operations ripple across the economy – from farmers growing sugarcane to retailers selling beverages – creating jobs, generating income, and building opportunities.
The Coca-Cola system in South Africa – comprising Coca-Cola and its authorized bottlers – alongside a broad network of local suppliers, distributors, and retailers, contributed R51.2 billion in value-added economic activity in 2024. Through its value chain, the system supported over 87,000 jobs through suppliers, partners, and customers.
The study further highlights the Coca-Cola system’s strong local integration, with R25.6 billion worth of goods and services sourced from suppliers in South Africa in 2024. This local procurement supports industries as diverse as sugar production, packaging, transportation, and marketing, reinforcing the Coca-Cola system’s role as a partner for growth in South Africa’s economic development.
Beyond economic impact, the authors highlighted Coca-Cola system’s contribution to social impact. For example, South Africa is one of the beneficiaries of the Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, a nearly $25 million investment by Coca-Cola through 2030 to help address critical water-related challenges in local communities in 20 African countries.
“This new independent study highlights the scale of the Coca-Cola system’s contribution to South Africa’s economy, employment, and communities,” said Luis Felipe Avellar, President of the Africa operating unit of The Coca Cola Company. “Our business is interconnected with local communities, we hire locally, produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally, helping to build a stronger, more integrated economy in South Africa.”
South Africa is a strategic market for Coca Cola in Africa. The US-headquartered beverage company first arrived in the country in 1928 and today serves the market through well-known brands such as Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta, Dasani, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak, Ayataka, Minute Maid, and Del Valle.
