
Africans purchase 36 billion bottles of Coke a year, at a price of 20-30 American cents per bottle. Since the price is so low, and because Coca-Cola analyzes sales so closely, the Coke bottle has actually become a reliable tracker of stability and prosperity in Africa.
For example, the ups and downs during Kenya’s post-election violence this year could be traced in sales of Coke in Nairobi’s slums and in western Kenya’s villages.
Coca-Cola is the largest private-sector employer in Africa. A study has suggested that 1 percent of South Africa’s economy is in some way related to the distribution and sale of Coke.
The company expects sales in Africa to grow by an annual 10 to 13 percent over the next few years, outstripping economic growth.