
Kick off 2025 by working towards Chartered Marketer (Africa) status
CM(A) is a high-level pan-African professional designation awarded to senior marketers in recognition of their experiences and skills.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025
Upgrade of production in Egypt comes at a time when US brands are being boycotted by local consumers due to the conflict in Gaza.
The Coca-Cola Company, through a local partner, has opened a new US$31.5–million production line at its Sadat City factory near Cairo in Egypt.
Photo credit: Coca-Cola Hellenic
It has a maximum output of 120,000 soft drink cans per hour and an annual capacity of 172-million litres of beverage. It will significantly boost the brand’s local operations in Egypt and enhance its export capability.
Coca-Cola is represented in Egypt by a strategic bottling partner, Coca-Cola Hellenic, which operates in 28 countries – including emerging markets such as Egypt, Nigeria, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Montenegro. It is headquartered in Switzerland.
The upgrade of production in Egypt comes at a time when US brands are being boycotted by local consumers due to the conflict in Gaza. Coca-Cola’s sales volumes are said to have declined markedly and competitors have moved in to fill the gap in the market. Pepsi is also under pressure.
Coca-Cola has spent millions building demand for its products
In a September 2024 report, news agency Reuters noted that: “Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo spent hundreds of millions of dollars over decades building demand for their soft drinks in Muslim-majority countries including Egypt [and] Pakistan.
“Now, both face a challenge from local sodas in those countries due to consumer boycotts that target the globe-straddling brands as symbols of America, and by extension Israel, at a time of war in Gaza.
“In Egypt, sales of Coke have cratered this year, while local brand V7 exported three times as many bottles of its own cola in the Middle East and the wider region than last year.”
Coca-Cola Hellenic’s factory covers 82,000 square metres. While most of the production is intended for domestic consumers, the Egyptian government is encouraging FMCG manufacturers to target export markets, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
CM(A) is a high-level pan-African professional designation awarded to senior marketers in recognition of their experiences and skills.
Experienced auto industry marketer joins after almost two decades with the Volkswagen and Audi brands in SA.
New CSA offering focuses on marketing-related data analysis, implementation and optimisation for African customers.
Abebe becomes the first Ethiopian to take up the MD position. He moves from the Coca-Cola operation in Uganda, where he was GM.
French-based Géant retail brand now has two stores in the previously troubled North African country, with more planned.
Aim is to quickly spot potential issues and identify gaps, tension points, blind spots and opportunities to course-correct after launches.
Using the right language to inform consumers of the sustainability credentials of a product is vital to ensuring its appeal – research.
Destination ads that emphasise an idealised future are more effective at enticing travellers than campaigns based on nostalgia.
He brings with him industry experience spanning financial services, professional services, IT and telecoms, and FMCG.
OK Zimbabwe, a household name in local retail, closes branches as Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers calls for urgent interventions.
The rapid spread of online misinformation has become a significant risk for businesses, brands and wider society. Why do people fall for it?
Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.
Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.
Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.