Durban, South Africa – KwaZulu-Natal has crowned its Bunny Chow champion for 2025. New Victory Foods from Phoenix took top honours in this year’s Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge, held at Blue Lagoon in Durban on Saturday, 22 November. 

A lively crowd turned out to cheer the top 10 finalists as they competed for the ultimate title. In the end, it was Kevshen and Vaneshree Govender, the owners of New Victory Foods, who walked away with the trophy and a cash prize of R50 000, Pnp Express Waterloo secured second place, owner Loraine Singh received R30 000, and third place went to Gregory Naidoo from Pnp Express Chatsworth, who won R20 000. 

Richard Willington, Regional Sales Manager at CCBSA in KZN, congratulated the winner and all finalists: “The standard of this year’s competition was exceptional, and we are proud to see how much passion and creativity went into every dish. The Bunny Chow Barometer is about more than food. It is about community, opportunity, and progress. For us, partnering with customers for growth is about celebrating their achievements and supporting their success beyond the competition.”  

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) group, is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 Ascend Leaders in Training Programme. This 18-month, Africa-wide programme offers graduates a structured pathway into leadership roles within one of Africa’s most influential companies. 

Successful participants will gain practical experience across multiple business areas, including production, commercial, logistics and quality control. Trainees will receive mentorship, participate in real projects aimed to drive business growth, and gain the skills and confidence needed to take on leadership responsibilities in a dynamic business environment. 

“Leadership programmes like Ascend help us develop the next generation of leaders. In today’s competitive job market, Ascend can play a vital role in preparing young graduates for meaningful careers. Beyond work experience, participants gain business skills, professional credibility, career guidance, and exposure to real business challenges. Graduates who complete the programme will have an opportunity to be considered for  permanent roles with higher responsibility and long-term career prospects”, said Rowena Lalla, CCBSA’s Country Lead for Talent Acquisition. 

The programme is open to graduates who completed their degrees in 2023 and 2024, as well as those who are completing their degrees in 2025, in fields such as engineering, commerce, and life sciences (including microbiology).  

Describing the type of candidates the company is looking for, Lalla added, “Successful candidates must be ambitious, adaptable, results-oriented, and eager to take ownership. They must be curious, solution-focused, and ready to learn and contribute to both the company and their own growth.  

The Ascend Leaders in Training Programme will include rotational assignments across key business functions, mentorship from experienced leaders, exposure to real business challenges, and opportunities in the future to work in different African markets within the CCBA group. 

Applications close on 30 November 2025. Eligible candidates interested in joining the Ascend Leaders in Training Programme are encouraged to apply early through the official recruitment website.  

Website: https://ccba.graduate.erecruit.co/candidateapp/Jobs/View/CCB251111-1  

Durban, South Africa – The search for KwaZulu-Natal’s best Bunny Chow has reached an exciting stage with the announcement of this year’s Top 10 finalists in the Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge.

The competition celebrates Durban’s most iconic dish and the local entrepreneurs who keep its heritage alive. Sponsored by CCBSA, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group, the challenge has become a highlight on the province’s culinary calendar, drawing huge community participation and shining a spotlight on the small businesses that make KZN’s food culture so unique. The finalists will go head-to-head for the title of Bunny Chow Barometer Champion 2025 and stand a chance of winning a share of R100 000 worth of prizes.

For CCBSA, this initiative is key to its strategy when partnering with customers for growth. Deeply understanding and prioritising the needs of customers and consumers, means delivering value beyond just selling beverages. It aligns with the company’s vision of striving to be a consumer-centric, customer-driven, beverage company. This approach underpins the Bunny Chow Barometer and CCBSA’s commitment to helping customers and communities grow.

Richard Willington, Regional Sales Manager at CCBSA in KZN said: “This competition reflects the heart of KwaZulu-Natal which revolves around passion, community and creativity. Through initiatives like this, we support local food outlets and create opportunities that go beyond business. Partnering with customers for growth is about walking alongside our partners, celebrating their success, and ensuring we all meet consumer needs and thrive together.”

CCBSA encouraged members of the public to join the finale at Blue Lagoon on Sunday, 16 November, to see who will be crowned the 2025 Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa Bunny Chow Barometer Champion.

TOP 10 FINALISTS

Engen Ilala Ridge Convenience Centre

PnP Express Chatsworth

Victory Lounge Umhlanga

Mias Restaurant

PnP Express Arena Park

Ramjathans Fast Foods

PnP Express Waterloo

New Victory Foods Aberdare Phoenix

Get lost pool and action bar

Zahraas Unique Foods

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has once again demonstrated its commitment to safety and operational excellence, proudly bringing home ten NOSCAR Awards at a ceremony held in Johannesburg recently.

The NOSCAR Awards are conferred only under exceptional circumstances, making them one of the most prestigious recognitions in Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Risk Management. To win, a company must meet and sustain the highest standards over several years.

This achievement reflects CCBSA’s consistent discipline and dedication to health, safety, and environmental excellence across all its operations, protecting the wellbeing of its employees, partners, and communities.

“At CCBSA, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group, our long-term success depends on ensuring the safety of everyone connected to our business – from employees, visitors on site, to our distribution networks, customers, consumers and the communities we call home,” said Rakesh Rajbally, CCBSA’s Managing Director.

“Safety is embedded across our entire value chain, from the arrival of raw materials to the moment our products reach consumers. We believe that a safe and healthy workplace is both a fundamental human right and a business imperative.

“Our guiding belief is ‘Zero is Possible’. This means zero incidents, whether related to personal safety or product quality. It reflects our commitment to do business the right way and operate with integrity as we refresh Africa and create shared value,” said Rajbally.

“Safety is not just a compliance requirement. It is a key part of our social license to operate and a driver of sustainable growth and societal progress.”

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) joined hands with local communities and partners and took part in Coastal Cleanup activities during September, helping to reduce packaging waste.

Areas where the clean ups took place included Plettenberg Bay, Richards Bay, Durban, Gqeberha, Aspen Heights, and the South Coast. CCBSA partnered with local municipalities and organisations such as the Garden Route District Municipality, City of Umhlathuze, The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), eThekwini Municipality, Sustainable Seas Trust, and Aspen Heights Ratepayers Association as part of the cleanup efforts.

“Water, packaging and climate challenges are interconnected, and so are the solutions we support,” says Basetsana-Bame Modimogale, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Director for CCBSA, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group. “We design and collect our packaging to help reduce waste.”

To support its packaging strategy, in 2019, CCBSA rolled out its innovative 2L returnable bottle. After first launching in the Eastern Cape, it has since been expanded to Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. 

The 2L returnable bottle looks similar to regular plastic bottles, but it is designed to be returned, cleaned, and refilled multiple times, just like the returnable glass bottles. It has a green “RETURNABLE” label on the front of the bottle, which helps consumers identify it easily. The same bottle can be refilled several times before being recycled, which helps reduce packaging waste.

The refillable bottle helps consumers re-use and recycle more often. After they have consumed the beverage, consumers can take the empty bottle to their local store to buy any 2L returnable PET plastic beverage and use the bottle as their deposit. This means they immediately benefit from the cost-saving return-and-refill model while enjoying the same great-tasting, high-quality beverages they know and love.

“We offer beverages in a variety of packaging formats including glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans and refillable packaging. Each option can play a role in helping reduce packaging waste and emissions. We are focusing efforts to use more recycled material in primary packaging and supporting collection rates, both of which require enabling policies and the growth of collection infrastructure. We intend to continue to invest in refillable packaging where infrastructure already exists and aim to focus on measurable and interconnected actions under two pillars: Design and Partner to Collect,” said Modimogale.

Furthermore, Coca-Cola and other like-minded parties came together in 2004 to set up the PET Recycling Company (PETCO) in South Africa to support and promote the collection and recycling of PET plastic, taking responsibility for recovering and recycling PET plastic beverage bottles. 

Extended producer responsibility initiatives such as this encourage the incorporation of environmental costs associated with PET products into product market costs and establish partnerships to take responsibility for used packaging.

“Collective action is needed to support packaging collection infrastructure and policies. We will continue to focus on increased advocacy for well-designed collection systems, as these are often the most efficient ways to improve packaging collection rates​,” concluded Modimogale.

These efforts align with The Coca-Cola Company’s goals to use 35% to 40% recycled material in primary packaging (plastic, glass, and aluminium), reduce packaging waste, and achieve its global target of collecting 70% to 75% of the equivalent number of bottles and cans it introduces into the market by 2035.

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), a company in the CCBA group, are reinforcing their commitment to doing business the right way by combining two of their flagship initiatives.

A group of senior leaders participating in the CCBA Edge Senior Leadership Acceleration Programme visited five Bizniz in a Box outlets near the company’s Midrand plant for a day of hands-on immersion.

The leadership programme, in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, offers accredited learning experiences tailored to CCBA’s unique needs and delivers real impact to senior leaders from Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia and Mozambique.

“This initiative will strengthen CCBA’s teams, grow our leaders, and build a strong talent pipeline to support our ambition of promoting from within and creating opportunities for our people to thrive,” says Nataša Prodanovic, Chief People and Culture Officer at CCBA.

On the day, programme delegates worked side by side with local entrepreneurs on outlet upgrades, including paving, installing water tanks, building shelving, and painting interiors. They also supported retail activations, such as sampling of the new energy drink in South Africa, Charged, to drive consumer engagement and product awareness.

CCBSA launched the Bizniz in a Box initiative in 2016 with a view to create an innovative youth and women empowerment programme which helps build township and rural economies by developing black youth-owned businesses.  “Bizniz in a Box aims to help empower young people and reduce youth unemployment. Each business operates out of a custom-designed container,” says Layla Jeevanantham, Chief Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Officer at CCBA.

Through initiatives like the CCBA Edge Senior Leadership Acceleration Programme and Bizniz in a Box, CCBA continues to invest in the growth of its people and the communities it calls home.

Johannesburg, South Africa – Thirty-seven Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) suppliers proudly graduated from Henley Business School during its mid-year graduation ceremony in July, marking another milestone in CCBSA’s ongoing commitment to developing black-owned and black women-owned enterprises.

The graduates earned either an Advanced Diploma in Management Practice or a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, having completed rigorous academic programmes designed to enhance business leadership and operational excellence.

Now in its third year, the CCBSA Supplier Development Programme equips entrepreneurs in the company’s value chain with essential skills in Systemic Management Practice, Innovative Wealth Creation, Managing Value Streams, and Synthesis and Integration. The programme forms part of CCBSA’s broader mission to build resilient, sustainable businesses that contribute to job creation and economic growth.

For Busi Thusi, Head of Procurement for CCBSA, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group, and an alumna of Henley Business School herself, the ceremony was especially meaningful. She had the honour of joining the graduation procession, celebrating alongside the new graduates.

“Seeing our suppliers walk across that stage is incredibly rewarding,” said Thusi. “They are not only building stronger businesses but also creating jobs, expanding into new markets, and making a tangible difference in their communities. We are proud to be part of their journey.”

The Supplier Development Programme is more than a training initiative – it is a strategic investment in South Africa’s small business sector, enabling participants to scale, diversify, and operate competitively in the mainstream economy.

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), a proudly local company, has reaffirmed its commitment to transformation by achieving a Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) rating, up from Level 3. 

This improved rating reflects CCBSA’s ongoing efforts to embed transformation across all areas of its business – from workplace representation and skills development to enterprise and supplier development, and strategic partnerships throughout its supply chain. 

“Following a thorough verification process, we’re proud to have achieved a Level 2 B-BBEE status,” said Basetsana-Bame Modimogale, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Director at CCBSA, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group. “We’ve consistently pursued progress across key pillars, with a clear focus on inclusive growth. Our commitment is reflected in how we impact all elements of the B-BBEE scorecard by continuously monitoring our progress and addressing with action where we need to improve. We believe that our growth is linked to the development of our employees and our entire value chain.”  

One of our most notable improvements was in skills development, where CCBSA gained more than five points year-on-year. This was driven by focused investment in learnerships for people living with disabilities, and training programmes. The company also achieved a 94% learner employment rate, demonstrating a commitment to building a more sustainable pipeline of talent and reinforcing its position as an employer of choice. 

CCBSA continues to prioritise Preferential Procurement, with over 50% of adjusted spend directed to black-owned suppliers and more than 30% to black women-owned businesses. These figures reflect a continued effort to unlock opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses and support inclusive economic growth. 

Integrity, transparency, and fairness remain central to CCBSA’s operations, with all decisions guided by ethics and core values. The company adheres strictly to policies, legal requirements, and industry best practices – ensuring integrity while building long-term trust with stakeholders. 

Strong performance was also maintained in enterprise and supplier development and socio-economic development, extending CCBSA’s impact beyond its direct operations to help drive more inclusive economic participation and uplift communities. 

This milestone also reinforces CCBSA’s broader purpose to Refresh Africa and Create Shared Value, anchoring business success in meaningful and measurable contributions to economic development, opportunity creation and lasting impact across the communities it serves. 

“Since our establishment in 2016, transformation has never been a checkbox exercise, but rather a strategic imperative at the core of who we are as CCBSA,” Modimogale added. “Our ongoing transformation journey is a testament to what’s possible when purpose, partnership and perseverance unite. We remain committed to building a future that is more inclusive and prosperous for all South Africans.” 

Johannesburg, South Africa – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has invested R365m in a new state-of-the-art bottling line capable of producing 72,000 bottles per hour at its plant in Midrand, South Africa.

The high-speed production line marks a South African first, producing Bonaqua Pump Still 750ml and Powerade 500ml packs with an innovative sports bottle cap. Beyond this milestone, the line will also produce Bonaqua Still in 330ml and 500ml packs, further driving the company’s efforts to expand its hydration category. Underscoring a commitment to innovation, the line will additionally produce the recently launched Powerade Springboks Edition.

“By launching this new line, we strengthen our ability to meet growing consumer demand and create shared value across the local value chain, including for our customers and communities,” said Moses Lubisi, Manufacturing and Technical Director at Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), a company in the CCBA group.

“Importantly, this investment reaffirms the Coca-Cola system’s local approach – we produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally.”

“At CCBA, our passion for refreshing the continent drives everything we do,” said Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of CCBA. “This new production line in South Africa represents a key step in our ambitious growth plans in all our markets on the continent. It enhances our ability to meet consumer needs while reinforcing our commitment to delivering reliability and top-quality beverages across Africa.”

To help support the company’s environmental goals, the new production line features advanced technology to optimise water and energy use. Additionally, the line required skills training for employees, contributing to the development of a future-ready workforce for both the business and the country.