Johannesburg – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa has begun the roll-out of its 2025 BizConnect roadshow aimed at empowering small businesses in the company’s supply chain.
The series of Expos kicked off in Polokwane on 13 February and will continue until mid-May, with stops in Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Elgin, Durban and Johannesburg.
The CCBSA BizConnect Expo is run in partnership with the I Am an Entrepreneur (IAAE) organisation and each event serves as a dynamic hub for innovation, collaboration, and growth.
“The BizConnect Expos are tailored to meet the evolving needs of suppliers and empower them to achieve sustainable success,” CCBSA Head of Procurement, Busi Thusi said.
Themed “Growth Hacking”, CCBSA wanted to highlight the power of agile, results-driven strategies to unlock exponential business growth.
Thusi said the Expos, targeted at CCBSA suppliers who are at least 51% South African black-owned enterprises, exempt micro-enterprises, or qualifying small enterprises.- focused on marketing, product development, and sales optimisation, with each event designed to equip attendees with actionable insights and tools to drive measurable impact.
Thusi added: “Our primary objective is to empower small, micro, and medium enterprises, enabling them to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves and make substantive contributions to the mainstream economy.
Each Expo offers a comprehensive three-tiered experience, consisting of:
- Plenary Sessions: Featuring thought leaders sharing insights on growth, innovation, and best practices
- Case Study Learning: Real-world examples of entrepreneurial success to inspire, educate, and provide practical takeaways
- Business Development Support: Access to resources and tools designed to enhance efficiency, scalability, and sustainability.
The Expos also feature Access to Markets Exhibitions, an interactive platform where suppliers can network, showcase their capabilities, and unlock new business opportunities not only within the Coca-Cola ecosystem, but also with other organisations.
Thusi concluded: “The Expos form part of our commitment to invest in the capacity-building of our supply chain by providing small business owners the tools to grow their businesses and enhance our operations.”
