SWITZERLAND – Swiss chocolate manufacturer, Barry Callebaut has revealed that it is on track to towards its goal to produce completely sustainable chocolate by 2025. In its latest “Forever Chocolate” progress report, Barry highlighted a number of achievements that it has made over the past year, key among them being a 17% reduction in its carbon intensity per metric ton of product when compared to 2016 levels. In addition, the company revealed that 214,584 cocoa farmers are estimated to be liberated from poverty in the company’s direct supply chain. Barry Callebaut was also proud to…
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CCEP taps sustainability expert Sam Jones to drive its net-zero agenda in Britain
UK – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola globally, has appointed Sam Jones as its new head of climate and sustainability in Britain. Jones joins CCEP from packaging giant, DS Smith, where he was responsible for the creation and roll-out of the business’ sustainability strategy. According to CCEP, Jones’s career highlight in DS Smith includes a key role in its Net Zero plans and Science-Based Targets for carbon reduction. Julian Hunt, vice-president, public affairs, communication and sustainability, CCEP GB said: “Sustainability sits at…
Read MoreNampak reports improved performance in all divisions registers 24% growth in revenue
SOUTH AFRICA – Africa’s leading diversified packaging manufacturer, Nampak, has reported a 24% rise in revenue to R14 billion driven primarily by strong results from the Metals division, as a result of a solid performance by Bevcan operations in South Africa and Nigeria. Erik Smuts, Nampak CEO, said, “Nampak had a successful financial year, driven by the recovery of all the South African metals operations, significant growth in the Nigerian beverage can market, new customers in Zambia and continued strong demand for our products in Zimbabwe.” Revenue from the Metals…
Read MoreRussia beefs up WFP’s supportive package in Kenya with donation of fortified vegetable oil worth US$1m
KENYA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a consignment of fortified vegetable oil worth US$1 million from the Russian Federation, in support of its resilience building activities in the drought-stricken arid counties of Kenya. This contribution will form part of the in-kind food package that WFP is distributing in this year’s lean season, when farming families typically face hunger. The food assistance agency distributes cereals, pulses, and fortified vegetable oil to vulnerable Kenyans while at the same time treating malnutrition in mothers by providing nutritious flour…
Read MoreAlapala expands capabilities in pasta production technology with acquisition of Axor Srl
ITALY – Global grain milling and handling system technologies provider, Alapala is set to acquire a majority of the shares of Axor Srl in an effort to bolster its capabilities in pasta technologies. Alapala already has created a name for itself as a leading provider of turnkey wheat, semolina, maize, and feed mills with over 700 successfully completed projects. Italian pasta technology company, Axor Srl is, on the other hand, a leader in its field, delivering pasta production plants worldwide. Under the deal, the two leaders in grain milling technology…
Read MoreKenyan coffee, baked goods outlet Artcaffe plans to open four new branches
KENYA – Artcaffe Group, owned by US private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), is seeking to expand its foot print in Kenya with the opening of four more outlets in Nairobi. The new branches will be opened in the next four weeks at Britam Tower in Upper Hill, Shell petrol stations on the Northern bypass, Eastern bypass road and Rhapta road, setting the stage for competition with rival brands such as Java. “We are planning to open the four branches in Nairobi this December. In total, by end of…
Read MoreKenyan agri-tech startup Shamba Pride raises US$1.1m funding round to finance expansion plan
KENYA – Kenyan agri-tech startup Shamba Pride has raised a US$1.1 million funding round to support its expansion across the country and roll out its solution to over 1,000 shops. Shamba Pride is a one-stop online-to-offline platform that connects smallholder farmers to quality inputs, services, and information through technology-powered “DigiShops”. Through Shamba Pride, existing last-mile agro dealer entrepreneurs are able to digitalise their operations and provide smallholder farmers with right and affordable technology, quality products and services. The model establishes a network of smart micro-entrepreneurs serving the smallholder farmer community,…
Read MoreBUA Group clinches US$200m to finance establishment of new integrated sugar project
NIGERIA – BUA Group, one of Nigeria’s leading manufacturing conglomerate, has received a US$200 million corporate facility from Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, to complete its vertically integrated sugar facility in Lafiagi, Kwara State, Nigeria. The proceeds will be utilised for the development, construction, commissioning and operations of the Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO). LASUCO, a first of its kind in Nigeria, is an integrated milling factory that will comprise of a 20,000 hectares plantation, 2,200,000 tons sugar milling plant and a 200,000 tons per annum sugar…
Read MoreAFEX expands across Africa with launch of US$100m Food Security Fund
NIGERIA – AFEX, Nigeria’s leading commodities market player, is seeking to spread his impact across the region with the launch of new US$100m 10-year bond dubbed The Food Security Fund (FSF). The financing is aimed to strengthen Africa’s food security and produce three million MT of food annually on the continent. According to AFEX, the fund will support the financing of 250,000 hectares of land for commercial and smallholder farming, initially consisting of 30,000 hectares in the Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River & the FCT, before…
Read MoreKenya Breweries Limited in search of new edgy corporate logo ahead of its centenary celebrations
KENYA – Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) is set to mark its centenary celebration in style with the launch of a new company identity. To this end, the alcohol drinks maker has introduced a competition dubbed KBL Still Got Skillz? for the design of a new company logo to mark its 100th birthday in 2022. The competition is open to design artists from Kenya aged between 21 and 25 years and is intended to come up with a next-generation logo in commemoration for one of Kenya’s oldest companies as it marks…
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