Here's the latest in ESM's regular series, Notes From Africa, which brings you the latest retail, consumer goods and food and beverage stories from across the African continent. Past editions can be found here.
Burkina Faso: Afridia Industries Launches Fruit Juice Brand
In Burkina Faso, the agri-food company Afridia Industries has launched a new brand of fruit juice, Malia. The product will be manufactured at its plant in Bobo-Dioulasso, which operates five production lines with a processing capacity of five tonnes of fresh mangoes, pineapple, banana and orange per hour. The company expects to create over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs through this initiative.
Kenya: Rai Group To Open New Sugar Factory By March
Kenyan agribusiness company Rai Group plans to commission a new sugar factory by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The Sh5 billion ($44 million) unit is located in Bungoma, northwest of Nairobi. It has a crushing capacity of 3,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day, which will be doubled to 6,000 tonnes in the long run. The group is the leader in the Kenyan sugar market, accounting for 45% of total sugar sales.
Ghana: Cocoa Processing Company Seeks Loan For Expansion
In Ghana, Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) is seeking a $87 million loan from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea) and Afreximbank, in order to rehabilitate its old processing lines. This will enable the company to increase its processing capacity to 87,657 tonnes of cocoa per year, up from the current 64,500 tonnes. Located in Tema, CPC’s products includes chocolate bars, spreads, chocolate drinks and confectionery.
South Africa: Sea Harvest Acquires Australian Fish Products Specialist
South African frozen seafood company Sea Harvest has reached an agreement to buy MG Kailis, an Australian shrimp and fish trawling company. The $51 million transaction is expected to be completed by April, subject to regulatory approval. It will include the acquisition of fishing vessels, licences and fishing rights for shrimp. The transaction is a further step in Sea Harvest's strategy to grow its international high-value seafood business.
Zimbabwe: Afdis To Unveil New Cider Fermentation Plant
In Zimbabwe, spirits and wine manufacturer African Distillers (Afdis) is seeking to develop a $1 million cider fermentation plant by April, which will enable the company to reduce its import costs Founded in 1944, Afdis manufactures, distributes and sells wines, ciders and spirits. Its brands include Viceroy, Skipper's, Amarula and Gold Blend.
Egypt: Tawfeer Market Raises $500,000 For Expansion
In Egypt, online grocery shopping platform Tawfeer Market has raised $500,000 to strengthen its market presence. Launched in 2019, the company allows users to find and purchase groceries via app, which it then delivers. The company intends to expand beyond its current operating base in Alexandria, the country's second most populous city. The Egyptian food retail sector is one of the largest in Africa, with total sector sales estimated at $34 billion in 2020 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Espoir Olodo. For more A-Brands news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
