CCPB Celebrates Women's Month with Growing Female Representation

Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) is celebrating Women's Month by highlighting its efforts to increase female participation in various roles across its workforce. The company, which employs approximately 1,350 people in South Africa's Western and Northern Cape, has seen a significant shift in the past few decades.

In the mid-1980s, CCPB had only one woman among 30 senior leaders. Today, that number has grown to 12 women holding equivalent leadership positions. This change is attributed to training and development opportunities that have opened pathways into professional, technical, and operational careers.

Bryn Morse, CCPB's culture and people development director, noted that women were initially concentrated in manual manufacturing positions but are now moving into driving roles and other traditionally male-dominated fields. For example, Larochelle Bezuidenhout joined CCPB as a seasonal truck driver in 2005 and became the company's first permanent female driver in 2012.

CCPB aims to create a culture where women have access to career development opportunities across its operations and see manufacturing and technical careers as viable long-term options. The company has invested in upgrading production infrastructure, expanding training initiatives, and creating structured pathways for employees entering technical and operational roles.