What Cbc does

CBC (The Central America Bottling Corporation) is a Guatemala-headquartered, multi-Latin beverage producer and the longest-tenured PepsiCo anchor bottler outside the United States, operating since 1942. The company produces and distributes a portfolio spanning carbonated soft drinks, juices and nectars, bottled water, isotonics, energy drinks, tea, beer, and functional beverages across 16 countries, reaching more than 1.2 million points of sale through 4,500+ sale routes, 1,852+ trucks, and 140+ warehouses and distribution centers. Its revenue model is anchored on three product pillars: PepsiCo-licensed brands (~64% of net sales, 71 brands), Beliv proprietary functional beverages (~24% of net sales, exported to 30+ countries), and Ambev-licensed beer (~12% of net sales). Operations include 14+ production plants, 81 bottling lines, and 900 million unit cases of annual production capacity, supported by state-of-the-art operational technology platforms including DATA HUB (human capital dashboards), ATLAS (productivity project), WCPP with WCM and WCS methodologies (manufacturing and selling excellence), Teams and Planner (goal management), Dream Work (flexible work model), and OHI (organizational survey).

The company is privately held and controlled by GEMCORP / Grupo Mariposa, with PepsiCo holding two of nine board seats alongside four GEMCORP representatives and three independent directors. CBC is governed by five board committees — Audit, Strategy and M&A, Talent and Compensation, Risk and Finance, and Sustainability — and has issued a $1.1 billion Sustainability-Linked Bond (2022), whose terms are tied to greenhouse gas reductions and Zero Waste to Landfill certifications. Reported 2021 financials include $1,833M in net sales, $288M adjusted EBITDA (15.7% margin), and $2,056M in total assets; volume sales of 563 million unit cases. The company targets 100% renewable electricity in operations (achieved by end of 2025), 100% Zero Waste to Landfill certification across plants by 2030, and SBTi-validated 48% absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction by 2030.

Customers fall into three layers: SMB retailers and traditional trade (over 1.2 million points of sale served through home delivery, regional platforms, mobile distribution centers, and B2B chats), brand partners (PepsiCo, Ambev, and proprietary Beliv), and end consumers (over 1 billion people across Latin America, the Caribbean, and selected export markets). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis through beverage production and distribution volume. Value-added community programs include USAID / TechnoServe merchant training in El Salvador, Microsoft digital-skills centers in Guatemala, UN Women gender-equality initiatives, and the Mujeres en Ruta women-in-logistics program.

Name

Cbc

Legal name

The Central America Bottling Corporation

Website

https://cbc.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CBC (The Central America Bottling Corporation) is a Guatemala-based multi-Latin beverage producer and PepsiCo anchor bottler operating across 16 countries, producing carbonated soft drinks, beer, juices, water, and functional beverages via Beliv, serving 1.2 million+ points of sale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverage Manufacturing and Bottling

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080), Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL), Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL), Sports Drinks & Hydration Beverages (CRADAHAK)

Keywords

• Beverage bottling services
• Drink manufacturing
• Functional beverages
• Beverage distribution
• Soft drinks production

Headquarters

HQ city

Guatemala City

HQ country

Guatemala

HQ region

Latin America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beverage Production and Distribution: CBC generates revenue through the production and distribution of a diversified beverage portfolio including carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), juices and nectars, bottled water, isotonics, energy drinks, tea, and beer. Net sales reported: $1,833M in 2021, $1,571M in 2020, $468M in March 2022 (LTM). Volume sales of 563 million unit cases in 2021.
2. Beliv Functional Beverages: Beliv, a business unit of CBC, develops, produces, and commercializes nutritional beverages and products, exporting to more than 30 countries around the world. Beliv focuses on innovation and functionality to create new categories and renew existing ones.
3. Sustainability-Linked Bond (SLB): CBC raised $1.1 billion through a Sustainability-Linked Bond with green commitments aligned with its ESG strategy and financial strategy.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CBC produces, bottles, and distributes a diversified beverage portfolio across carbonated soft drinks, juices, nectars, bottled water, isotonics, energy drinks, tea, beer, and functional beverages. The company operates as PepsiCo's anchor bottler in 9 Latin American and Caribbean markets, distributes Ambev/AB InBev beer brands in Guatemala and Puerto Rico, and sells its proprietary Beliv functional beverages to 30+ countries. Operations span 15 manufacturing plants, 81 bottling lines, and 4,500+ sales routes reaching over 1.2 million points of sale.

Product overview

CBC (The Central America Bottling Corporation) is a multi-Latin beverage company with the largest beverage portfolio in the region, exporting to more than 35 countries. The company operates three core product lines: (1) PepsiCo Beverages—71 brands of carbonated soft drinks, juices, water, isotonic drinks, energy drinks, and tea including Pepsi, Gatorade, 7Up, and Lipton; (2) Ambev Beer—22 brands including Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, and Negra Modelo distributed via strategic alliance; and (3) Beliv Functional Beverages—45 brands of nutritious and functional drinks with exports to 30+ countries. Operations span 15 manufacturing plants and 81 bottling lines, reaching over 1.2 million points of sale with 1,852 trucks and 4,500+ sales routes. CBC holds science-based emissions targets validated by SBTi, Zero Waste to Landfill certifications across 9 plants, and a $1.1B sustainability-linked bond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beliv: Business unit focused on development, production and commercialization of nutritional beverages and products; functional and healthier beverages. Exports to more than 30 countries.
• PepsiCo Products
• Brahva
• Ambev Brands

Products and services

• PepsiCo Beverages Full portfolio of PepsiCo beverage brands including carbonated soft drinks, juices, bottled water, isotonic drinks, energy drinks, and tea. Key brands include Pepsi, Gatorade, 7Up, and Lipton, distributed across Central America, Caribbean, and South America to over 1.2 million customers through a relationship spanning over 80 years. PepsiCo brands account for approximately 64% of net sales and 67% of volume sales.
• Ambev Beer Beer portfolio through strategic alliance with Ambev (AB InBev Group). Includes global brands such as Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Stella Artois, Becks, Budweiser, and locally produced Brahva. Distributed primarily in Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Ambev brands account for approximately 12% of net sales and 5% of volume sales.
• Beliv Functional Beverages Nutritious and functional beverages business unit focused on developing, producing, and commercializing health-oriented drinks and products. Exports to more than 30 countries. Beliv's vision is to be the best and largest healthy beverage company in the Americas, emphasizing innovation and functionality to create or renew beverage categories. Beliv accounts for approximately 24% of net sales and 28% of volume sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49.81% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (47,346.89 tCO2e) by December 2025 compared to 2019 baseline, verified by Ernst & Young
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Holcim EcuadorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Tesalia CBC and Holcim Ecuador signed an industrial symbiosis agreement for 5 years focused on sustainable water management. Treated water from Tesalia CBC's facilities is reused in Holcim's concrete production, with over 41,000 m³ of water to be reused over the agreement period. This initiative aligns with SDG 6, 12, and 17.
• Instituto Superior Tecnológico Bolivariano (ITB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ITB partnered with Tesalia CBC on the 'Mujeres en Ruta' program, providing 45 scholarships for professional driving training over 6 months at the 'Tu licencia' driving school, with ITB accreditation. The program promotes gender inclusion in the transport sector.
• Proyecto AnaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Proyecto Ana, a multi-sector initiative promoted by civil society and the private sector led by First Lady Lavinia Valbonesi, partnered with Tesalia CBC and ITB on the 'Mujeres en Ruta' program to empower women through professional driving training.
• Red HOSAGUAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Red HOSAGUA (Red de Mujeres del Trifinio) partnered with CBC and UN Women to establish the Centro Digital de Formación HOSAGUA Guatemala for women's digital and economic empowerment in the Trifinio region.
• Ernst & Young (EY)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Ernst & Young independently verified CBC's GHG emissions data in accordance with ISAE 3410 standard for greenhouse gas statements and the GHG Protocol, providing limited assurance on CBC's carbon footprint inventory.
• SGSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024SGS took over the Zero Waste to Landfill certification process from Carbon Trust in mid-2024, providing independent verification of CBC's waste management standards at its production plants.
• Recycling Partner of JamaicaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CBC participates in Recycling Partner of Jamaica, a collaboration between companies, NGOs, and the Jamaican government dedicated to promoting sustainable recycling and waste management practices to reduce plastic pollution in oceans and landfills.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CBC participated in a WIPO forum on using intellectual property to address plastic waste pollution, collaborating on innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental impact of plastic waste in the Caribbean.
• USAIDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CBC, in alliance with USAID and TechnoServe, launched the 'Support Project for Tiendas de Colonia' in El Salvador, offering financial and business training to 44,000 local merchants, facilitating access to financing for 10,500 businesses, and benefiting 15,000 residents with new products and services.
• TechnoServeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023TechnoServe is implementing the 'Support Project for Tiendas de Colonia' alongside CBC and USAID in El Salvador, providing technical support to over 1,800 stores in areas such as sales and digitalization.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Microsoft and Grupo Mariposa signed a collaboration agreement to provide digital skills training to Guatemalans, starting in Sacatepéquez, Quetzaltenango, and Sololá departments. Training centers were established at Enrique Castillo Monge school, San Juan La Laguna municipal hall, and CBC's Quetzaltenango agency. Training covers digital fundamentals, soft skills, role-based courses via LinkedIn Learning, and Microsoft certification.
• Listo (Nutri Listo)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022CBC partnered with Listo to distribute Nutri Listo, a ready-to-consume vitamin-enriched peanut butter supplement for children 6-24 months, to combat chronic malnutrition in Guatemala. Distribution reaches remote communities through CBC's network.
• Social Capital Foundation (SCF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CBC and the Social Capital Foundation officially presented the Atitlán Recicla cooperative, a women's recycling cooperative in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, combining social, environmental, and economic impact.
• Universidad de Vanderbilt / INCAPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Listo received technical assistance from Vanderbilt University (led by Prof. Ted Fischer) and the Instituto de Nutrición de Centroamérica y Panamá (INCAP) for the formulation and scientific backing of Nutri Listo nutritional supplement.
• UN Women (Mujeres Economía Local y Territorios - MELyT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CBC partnered with UN Women and the Red HOSAGUA to open the 'Centro Digital de Formación HOSAGUA Guatemala' in Chiquimula, empowering women with digital, business, commercial, and financial skills. The center benefits an initial group of 50 women from Red HOSAGUA and other women entrepreneurs in the Trifinio region.
• BelivcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Beliv is a business unit of CBC focused on developing, producing, and commercializing nutritious and functional beverages. It exports to more than 30 countries worldwide and focuses on creating products and brands through innovation and functionality. Beliv accounts for ~24% of net sales and ~28% of volume sales. Beliv reached Argentina with Citric in 2016.
• United Nations Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CBC adhered to the UN Global Compact in 2013, reaffirming its commitment to development and sustainability. CBC aligns its strategies and operations with the ten universally accepted principles in four areas: human rights, labor standards, environment, and anti-corruption policies, and with the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Grupo Tesalia y TropicalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011CBC entered Ecuador in 2011 in alliance with Grupo Tesalia and Tropical, marking its first expansion into South America. This partnership established CBC's presence in Ecuador.
• Ambev (AB InBev)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003CBC developed a strategic alliance with Ambev in 2003 for both production and distribution in Guatemala, including installation of a production plant in Teculután, Zacapa. CBC also distributes ABI brands (Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo) in Puerto Rico. Ambev brands account for ~12% of net sales and ~5% of volume sales.
• PepsiCoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1942CBC has been a PepsiCo bottler since 1942 (over 80 years), making it the oldest PepsiCo bottler outside the United States. In 1998, CBC became PepsiCo's Anchor Bottler in nine Latin American and Caribbean markets. PepsiCo brands account for ~64% of CBC's net sales and ~67% of volume sales. PepsiCo has recognized CBC multiple times including as Global Bottler of the Year in 2012 and Best Bottler LATAM in 2024.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• PepsiCo: Global beverage and snack giant and CBC's anchor brand partner since 1942, accounting for ~64% of CBC's net sales. Comparable as the brand owner whose product portfolio (Pepsi, Gatorade, 7Up, Lipton) is bottled and distributed by CBC across 9 LatAm/Caribbean markets; PepsiCo holds two board seats.
• Monster Beverage Corporation: U.S.-based leader in energy drinks, comparable to CBC's energy drink category within its portfolio. PepsiCo holds a strategic stake in Monster, mirroring CBC's PepsiCo-anchor bottling relationship; relevant for energy drink category benchmarking and distribution competition.
• Ambev (AB InBev): Latin America's largest brewing company and CBC's beer partner since 2003. Comparable as a global beverage incumbent whose beer portfolio (Corona, Modelo, Budweiser, Stella Artois) CBC distributes and produces in Guatemala and Puerto Rico, accounting for ~12% of CBC's net sales.

Emerging players

• Lassonde Industries: Canadian-based manufacturer of fruit juices, functional beverages, and specialty foods sold under brands like Oasis and Rougemont. Comparable to Beliv's functional/nutritional beverage positioning as a smaller, more focused player in the health-oriented beverage category that CBC is targeting through Beliv.

Direct peers

• Pepsi Bottling Ventures: Largest privately-held PepsiCo bottler in the United States, operating across the Southeast and Midwest. Directly comparable to CBC as a PepsiCo anchor bottler with similar franchise-based business model, route-to-market distribution, and multi-category beverage portfolio.
• Coca-Cola FEMSA: Largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America by volume, operating in 10+ countries including Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, and Argentina. Directly comparable to CBC's anchor bottler model across multiple beverage categories, with similar scale, route-to-market infrastructure, and emerging market exposure.
• Arca Continental: Mexico-based Coca-Cola bottler with the largest Latin American Coca-Cola franchise territory by volume. Directly comparable to CBC as a multilatin bottler with national distribution networks, multi-country operations, and partnerships with global beverage brands. The closest publicly traded direct peer to CBC.
• Embotelladora Andina: Chile-based Coca-Cola bottler with operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Comparable to CBC as a multi-country Latin American bottler with similar portfolio diversification (CSDs, juices, water) and route-to-market distribution model.
• Florida Ice and Farm Company (FIFCO): Costa Rica-based multinational beverage and food company with operations across Central America and the Caribbean. Comparable to CBC as a Central American bottler with multi-country presence, beverage portfolio diversification, and publicly traded consumer staples exposure.
• Grupo Bepensa: Mexican diversified beverage company operating as a Coca-Cola bottler in Mexico and parts of the U.S. Comparable to CBC as a multi-country bottler with broad beverage portfolio (CSDs, water, juices) and PepsiCo/FEMSA-style anchor bottling relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbc-guatemala
• Instagraminstagram.com/somoscbc
• Xx.com/somoscbc
• Facebookfacebook.com/somoscbc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cbc