ESM is proud to launch a new weekly series, Notes From Africa, which will bring you the latest retail, consumer goods and food and beverage stories from across the African continent. Past editions can be found here.
In this week's report:
Zimbabwe: Schweppes To Establish 2,700 Hectare Citrus Plantation
Schweppes Holdings Africa, a leading manufacturer of non-carbonated beverages, plans to establish a 2,700 hectare citrus orchard in the town of Beitbridge, Zimbabwe. The project will be undertaken by Sunrise Citrus Estates, one of its subsidiaries. It intends to enable the processing of juice for local as well as international markets. Schweppes is known internationally for brands like Mazoe Orange Crush, Minute Maid Juices and Just Juice.
Uganda: New Fruit Processing Factory To Be Opened
Uganda-based food Company Delight Uganda Limited (DUL) plans to launch a fruit processing unit worth Shs30 billion (€6.8 million) in Nwoya district, Northern Uganda. The project will be developed under a public-private partnership, alongside the government. The facility will have the initial capacity to process 8 tonnes of fruit per hour, which will be enhanced in the long run to 12 tonnes. The new unit is expected to create added value in the agriculture sector and support farmers. DUL is also specialised in the packaging and distribution of soft drinks under the brand name Cheers.
Kenya: SunCulture Raises €9 Million For Expansion
Kenya-based agri-tech firm SunCulture has received $11 million (€ 9 million) in syndicated loans to expand supply of its solar powered irrigation systems in Africa. With this sum, the company plans to increase access to renewable energy installations at smallholder farms by replacing diesel pumps with solar ones, thus preventing 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The company's products combine solar water pumping technology with high-efficiency drip irrigation, enabling farmers to grow more while spending less.
Ethiopia: EthioChicken To Receive €8 million To Boost Development
Chicken farmer EthioChicken Group is set to receive a $10 million (€8 million) loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The financing will be used to construct two new breeding farms with a capacity of 60,000 birds each, as well as a new hatchery facility, over the next five years. According to local media reports, the sites will be localised in the Amhara and SNNPR regions. In Ethiopia, the chicken industry is still in its infancy, with average per capita poultry consumption of 0.5 kilograms amongst the lowest in the world.
Nigeria: Guinness Nigeria Registers a 6% Rise In Revenue In H1 2021
Guinness Nigeria Plc, the local unit of Diageo plc, has posted a 6 % year-on-year revenue growth, to N72.3 billion (€157 million) during the first half-year of its financial year, ended 31 December. In a press release, the company reported a rise operating profit by 4% to N3.7 billion (€8 million). However, financial costs increased considerably by 49% to N2.422 billion during the period under review, due to the effect of foreign-exchange policy, the devaluation of the naira and a trading environment characterised by inflationary challenges. Guinness Nigeria is the country’s second-biggest brewer, with iconic brands including Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Guinness Africa Special and Harp Lager beer.
South Africa: Kaap Agri Taps Into Online Trade Opportunity To Expand Customer Base
Kaap Agri, an agricultural trading company, is betting on e-commerce to expand its operations beyond physical rural markets. According to local media reports, the company is developing online sales platforms to provide a wide range of agricultural product like grains, liquor and pet foods. Kaap Agri has more than 200 operating points and has divisions in grain, irrigation, retail and mechanisation. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed company posted revenue of €481 million in 2020.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Espoir Olodo. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
