Material matters

Operating across Southern and East Africa presents a range of economic and socio-political challenges, which we navigate through strong local partnerships and deep market understanding. Our geographic diversity enhances resilience, while a broad portfolio of over 1 757 consumer brands support revenue stability despite volatility. In an environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, global supply-chain disruptions and the accelerating impacts of climate change, macro-economic conditions remain a key material consideration. These dynamics require proactive management and strategic agility to sustain performance and unlock growth across our markets.

Leveraging strategic partnerships creates access to new markets and strengthens our competitive advantage, while deepening growth within existing ones. These collaborations enable shared value creation and enhance our ability to scale capabilities across the region. This material matter also reflects "The Power of &", a core element of the group's identity that emphasises collaboration, synergy and collective strength.

This material matter reflects our commitment to staying ahead of rapidly evolving shopper behaviours, retail dynamics and technological change. As consumer expectations shift and digital adoption accelerates, innovation and disruptive technologies are essential to remaining relevant, competitive and solutions-driven. By harnessing local insights, advanced data capabilities and emerging technologies, we are better equipped to anticipate market needs, optimise execution and create value for clients, customers and consumers.

CA&S is strengthening supply-chain resilience by partnering with clients, customers and industry stakeholders to navigate external pressures and shifts in the competitive landscape. Our response includes expanding our geographic reach, broadening our service portfolio and pursuing strategic acquisitions that enhance capability and stability. Strong customer relationships and ongoing stakeholder engagement remain central to sustaining market leadership. This approach creates opportunities to extend our product range, enter new markets, and build supply chains that are more efficient, adaptable and sustainable over the long-term.

CA&S is committed to operating as a responsible corporate citizen, recognising the growing societal focus on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and ethical business conduct. Climate change, resource constraints and rising inequality are shaping expectations for how businesses manage their environmental and social impact. In response, we continue to strengthen supply-chain stewardship, responsible sourcing and ethical procurement across our operations. At the same time, regulatory frameworks and stakeholder expectations for ESG integration are accelerating, requiring greater transparency, stronger governance and consistent compliance. These shifts reinforce the importance of embedding ESG considerations into our strategy, culture and day-to-day decision-making to support long-term, sustainable value creation.

CA&S recognises that attracting, empowering and retaining a high-quality workforce is essential to sustaining performance in a rapidly evolving world of work. In emerging markets, specialised and technical skills – particularly digital capabilities – are increasingly scarce, making talent development and retention a strategic priority. As our digital journey accelerates, employees require a high digital quotient and the ability to adapt to new systems, technologies and data-driven ways of working. External factors such as the competitive global job market, remote work dynamics and socio-political disruptions heighten the complexity of workforce management. In response, CA&S invests in upskilling, employee well-being and career development, ensuring our people are equipped, supported and future ready. This material matter also aligns with our training and capability-building initiatives across the group.