Beverage producer Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has officially regained its Level 1 broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) rating for the 2025 assessment period, up from Level 2 in the previous cycle.

At a time when corporate transformation and local economic participation are vital to South Africa's economic trajectory, CCBSA's multi-year strategy demonstrates how global brand bottlers can drive inclusive local growth while maintaining commercial scale, the company says.

CCBSA regaining its BBBEE credentials reflects the company's long-term investment in local ownership, supplier development, skills development and community upliftment initiatives. It also reinforces CCBSA's commitment to creating shared value by supporting inclusive economic growth across its value chain.

"The improvement from a Level 2 rating in the previous cycle to Level 1 is the result of a deliberate, multi-year approach to embedding transformation and economic participation throughout the business.

"Our business is centred on a local approach - we hire locally, produce locally, distribute locally and where possible, source locally. We believe in South Africa’s potential, and we are here to help harness South Africa’s growth, for all of us. We have demonstrated that global businesses can succeed by growing alongside the communities they serve," says CCBSA public affairs, communication and sustainability director Bame Modimogale.

CCBSA currently maintains a 20% black shareholding, with the Ikageng Employee Share Trust holding 15.5%, reflecting its commitment to broad-based ownership and employee participation.

The company also strengthened its skills development performance in the period under review through targeted investments in employee development, including programmes that support employees with disabilities and contribute to a more inclusive workplace.

In terms of management control, CCBSA maintains more than 67% black representation on its board, reinforcing its commitment to transformation at leadership level.

The company also continues to create opportunities for local businesses through its procurement and supplier development initiatives. The company directed significant procurement spend to black-owned suppliers, with a particular focus on black women owned businesses, under its preferential procurement approach.

Under the enterprise and supplier development element of the scorecard, South Africa’s largest non-alcoholic beverages producer achieved full and bonus points through its continued investment in, and support of, small, medium-sized and microenterprises.

These efforts are supported through initiatives such as the CCBSA-Henley Business School programme and supplier development summits, which help strengthen business capability and support the long-term sustainability of supplier businesses.

CCBSA’s socioeconomic development initiatives, meanwhile, continue to support entrepreneurship, education, and economic inclusion in the communities where the company operates.

One such initiative is Bizniz in a Box, an innovative youth and women empowerment programme that helps build township and rural economies by developing black youth-owned businesses that are responsive to the needs of their communities.

The company’s commitment to education is also reflected through the Study Buddy Fund, which supports youth from communities in which CCBSA operates to access tertiary education. The fund covers tuition, accommodation and textbook costs.

"Attaining Level 1 BBBEE status is an important milestone that reflects our commitment to creating shared value through the way we do business," Modimogale states.

"We remain focused on supporting economic participation, strengthening local enterprise, and investing in the people and communities that are central to South Africa's future growth and prosperity."