The initiative, launched in 2010, aims to empower women working in the Coca Cola chain by helping them promote their businesses, so that they become financially independent and able to sustain their families.
A giant $17m glass packaging plant was recently commissioned at Mutare Bottling.
In a interview on the sidelines of the commissioning ceremony, Maserame Mouyame, Coca-Cola central Africa general manager, said Coca Cola’s 5×20 initiative would benefit a number of women in Mutare and surrounding areas.
She said the new line would play a pivotal role in consistently supplying the women retailers.
“Our system also supports women in our communities to be able to comfortably earn a living and to contribute to the well-being, development and education to their families,” said Mouyame.
She said women were not only pillars of business but also pillars of their communities.
“We want women to play an active role as business people. This initiative is a change from doing community projects where we just fulfil community initiatives. This is about women running a business and being active,” she said.
She said this was a major move taken by Coca-Cola because it believed women run businesses that were sustainable.
“Women rarely take money to buy a Mercedes Benz. They re-invest in business, they educate their children and we believe they are more stable partners for us as a system that needs a strong customer base,” said Mouyame.
She said the opening of the Mutare plant was a big project, as they were looking beyond their customers.
“We want to see women in leading roles, living in an environment where they are given opportunities and skills that can grow the business profitably,” said Mouyame.
Post published in: News