Sofavin unveils new Coca-Cola bottling plant in Gabon

GABON – Sofavin, the official bottler of Coca-Cola in Gabon, has opened a state-of-the-art bottling plant in Owendo, approximately 20 kilometers from Libreville. 

The facility was inaugurated on February 6, 2025, marking a significant investment of over CFA20 billion (US$31.4M) to meet Coca-Cola’s international standards. 

An additional CFA15 billion (US$23.5M) investment is planned over the next two years to further enhance production capabilities.

Spanning 40 hectares, the plant features three advanced production lines with the capacity to produce 32,000 glass bottles, 15,000 cans, and 5,000 plastic bottles per hour. 

It will bottle Coca-Cola’s flagship brands, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Schweppes, in multiple formats such as returnable glass bottles, plastic bottles, and cans, ensuring product safety and quality.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Brice Oligui Nguéma, Gabon’s transitional President. 

The facility is expected to generate 700 direct and indirect jobs, contributing to local economic growth. Additionally, a continuous training program has been implemented to develop local talent and enhance workforce skills.

“We’ve invested over CFA20 billion since joining the Coca-Cola network to meet the standards and requirements of Coca-Cola International and boost our production capacity,” stated André Lebouama, Deputy Director representing the Fobert Group. 

The project received financial support from two major banks, BGFIBank and the Union Gabonaise de Banques (UGB). While Sofavin has not disclosed the specific contributions from each bank, their backing was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

Sofavin became the official bottler of Coca-Cola in Gabon in May 2022, succeeding Sobraga, a subsidiary of Castel Group, which had partnered with Coca-Cola for 25 years. 

The transition followed Coca-Cola’s decision to end its relationship with Castel Group and its subsidiaries, affecting bottling partnerships in other African countries, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, and Senegal.

Despite losing the Coca-Cola portfolio, Sobraga continues to distribute its own brands, including World Cola and D’jino, in Gabon’s competitive soft drinks market.