Speaking to journalists, on the sidelines of the event in which the partnership was formalized, this Saturday, at the Kikuxi industrial complex (Luanda), the executive president of Refriango, Diogo Caldas, underlined that this is "a new cycle" for the company and assured that the drinks will be produced with the highest quality.
"Refriango has one of the best laboratories in the country and which ensures the quality that was already required in the products we have. In the audit that Coca Cola carried out on Refriango, this was one of the positive points" for the company that will replace Castel as official bottler in Angola.
In addition to investing in the marketing area, to reinforce the brands' reputation in the market, 300 people will be hired for the commercial area and changes were made to the filling line to produce canned, PET (plastic) and bottled beverages, entirely intended for to the Angolan market, said Diogo Caldas.
Under this agreement, Refriango took over the preparation, packaging, distribution and marketing of Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid and Schweppes, products of The Coca-Cola Company brands in Angola, starting next week.
In terms of litres, Diogo Caldas estimates that production will increase between 20 and 30 percent compared to what was manufactured at Refriango, and stressed that the partnership also involves, in addition to the industrial area, social responsibility and sustainability projects.
The business growth expectations, he continued, are "positive" and the leader of Refriango admits double-digit growth until the end of the year.
"After covid-19, the market is growing and there are some macroeconomic impacts that are being reflected in the market and increasing consumption. We have been adapting our portfolio and bringing more accessible products to the consumer, we are experiencing a positive moment and growing in general, we are making a big bet not only on non-alcoholic brands, but also on beers".
The change of commercial partner of Coca-Cola in Angola, where it was previously represented by the French group Castel, was announced in May as part of a strategy to restructure the beverage multinational in several African countries.
Coca-Cola's vice president for West Africa, Islands and Central Africa, Rodrigue Bila, said that the company works with local bottlers in several countries and that, in this model, to be successful, the alignment of partners is decisive.
"We must have a common vision for growth and sustainability, in order to have a healthy partnership", he said, stressing that the quality of the product will be the same and that the company has high quality standards all over the world.
According to the weekly Expansão, the Castel group, which lost Coca-Cola to Refriango, will now be in negotiations with rival Pepsi.
Castel and Refriango, belonging to the group of Portuguese businessman Luís Vicente, are the main beverage companies in the Angolan market.
Refriango owns one of the largest industrial complexes with more than 42 hectares, 2400 workers and 27 filling lines.
