The company, which has exclusive rights to bottle the drink in Ethiopia, said it was forced to temporarily close two plants and send 1,000 workers on compulsory leave. The decision could affect the livelihood of up to 150,000 people involved in the supply chain of the company throughout the country, EABS said in a statement.
The Coca-Cola bottler has suffered from a shortage of foreign currency, which has prevented the producer from importing raw materials such as crown cork, concentrate and spare parts, the Ethiopian newpaper The Reporter wrote.
The African Press Agency explained that Ethiopia has been facing a serious shortage of foreign currency due to the imbalance of export and import trade of the country, which has resulted in the shortage of currency in the past few months.
According to Reuters, street children have been collecting bottle tops from the streets of capital Addis Ababa, where the bottling plant is located, and selling them back to companies to recycle.
In its statement, EABS said the board of directors will hold a meeting to discuss necessary measures.
Source: African Press Agency, Coca-Cola Sabco, The Reporter, Reuters
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