Source: VOA
By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
27 March 2009

Coca-Cola Flows In Ethiopia, But Drains Foreign Currency

The American soft drink Coca-Cola has become a symbol of Ethiopia’s deepening financial troubles. The beverage is flowing again after a brief pause, even though it drains the country’s precious foreign exchange reserves. Read more.

Ethiopia Hit by Coca-Cola Drought
Source: BBC

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has run out of Coca-Cola as the credit crunch takes the fizz out of the economy.

The BBC’s Elizabeth Blunt in the city says she has known African countries to run out of petrol, soap, sugar, batteries or tyres – but never Coke.

The East Africa Bottling Share Company, which produces the soft drink in the region, last week temporarily shut its bottling operation in Ethiopia.

It said they had the Coca-Cola – but did not have the bottle tops.

The firm, which has sent 1,000 workers on compulsory leave, said in its most recent statement that the Ethiopian government had intervened.

The company promised the familiar bottles would start rolling out of the plant again soon. Read More.

Ethiopia Coca-Cola bottler stops on forex shortage
ADDIS ABABA, March 17 (Reuters) – Ethiopia this week ran out of Coca-Cola after its local bottler said it no longer had enough foreign currency to buy bottle tops. The East African Bottling Share Company — who have exclusive rights to bottle the drink in Ethiopia — said they were forced to temporarily close their two plants in the Horn of Africa nation and send their 1,000 workers on compulsory leave. Read More.

Above: The Amharic Coca-Cola logo at the Coca-Cola 600
NASCAR race, in Charlotte, NC, on Memorial Day weekend, 2008.