Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the continent’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, will add to its operations with the 100% acquisition of Kenya’s Equator Bottlers for an undisclosed amount. Equator Bottles is Kenya’s third-largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola. Established in 1966, the group distributes Coca-Cola’s range of soft drinks in seven counties in western Kenya — Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Vihiga, Bomet, Kericho and Kisumu — where it serves about 6.5-million consumers through nearly 20,000 outlets. CCBA’s MD for the international division, Jacques Vermeulen, said on Thursday that the acquisition made "perfect sense" for the group as well as for consumers in Kenya. "We see a compelling long-term growth opportunity for nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverages in Kenya and we believe that this is a more efficient model that supports the growth potential," said Vermeulen. "This acquisition of Equator will allow us to share best practice and improve our service for both the formal and in...
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