Food Business Africa

SA’s Pioneer Foods recalls LiquiFruit, Ceres apple juice brands due to mould contamination

Oct 14, 2021Oct 14, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – Pioneer Foods, one of the largest food and beverage manufacturer in South Africa (SA) owned by PepsiCo, has announced a recall of several LiquiFruit brands and Ceres apple juice products sold outside the homeland country, following detection of elevated levels of mould toxins in them. This comes barely a week after Appletiser, a sparkling apple juice brand produced by Coca-Cola South Africa announced a recall of six batches of its product over the same concern. More than 37,000 cases of Appletiser, both cans and glass bottles, were…

Heineken extends dominance in Nigeria beer market with potential Champion Breweries takeover

Oct 13, 2021Oct 13, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – Heineken NV, the world’s second-largest brewer has launched a mandatory takeover bid for Nigeria based Champions Breweries, seeking to buyout the remaining 15.3% equity stake. The Dutch brewing company, made the offer through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Raysun Nigeria Limited, Heineken N.V, and plans to purchase up to 1,196,799,164 ordinary shares from the other shareholders of Champions Breweries. This is according to a recent notice signed by the Chairman of Champions Breweries Plc., Dr Elijah Akpan, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), reports Nairametrics. The move comes…

Coca-Cola HBC expands coffee chain portfolio with acquisition of minority stake in Caffè Vergnano

Oct 13, 2021Oct 13, 2021 Editor

ITALY – Swiss-based Coca-Cola anchor bottler Coca-Cola HBC has completed the acquisition of a 30% equity shareholding in premium Italian coffee company Casa del Caffè Vergnano, further expanding its presence in the coffee chain space. Caffè Vergnano is one of the oldest coffee roasters in Italy with a premium, high-quality coffee that represents Italian heritage and authenticity. The coffee chain’s portfolio includes traditional espresso in various blends, packages, and formats such as beans, roast, and ground coffee and single portioned pods. According to a statement from Coca-Cola HBC, the company sold approx. 7,000 tons of coffee in more than 90…

Coca-Cola HBC pledges net-zero emissions by 2040, announces US$289m investment in emission reduction initiatives

Oct 12, 2021Oct 13, 2021 Editor

SWITZERLAND – Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, the third-largest Coca-Cola anchor bottler in the world, has made a commitment to reduce emissions to net-zero across its entire value chain by 2040. To achieve this goal, the Zug, Switzerland-based bottler has committed to invest €250m ($289m) in emissions reduction initiatives by 2025. Part of the funds will go towards facilitating the company’s transition to 100% renewable electricity and low carbon energy sources. Coca-Cola HBC also plans to invest in continuous improvements and innovations in energy efficiency to further reduce the carbon footprint…

AB InBev fishes out for innovative ideas through Beer Garage Africa Innovation Challenge

Oct 12, 2021Oct 12, 2021 Editor

AFRICA – AB InBev, world’s renowned beer company, AB InBev has partnered with Hindsight Ventures to launch the Beer Garage Africa Innovation Challenge, which will offer startups access to venture development and grant funding. With over 500 brands and over six million B2B customers in over 100 countries, AB InBev launched Beer Garage a few years ago with the objective of driving innovation by building a strong community of ecosystem stakeholders. As part of this initiative, the beer major is now launching the Beer Garage Africa Innovation Challenge, a pan-African…

Coca-Cola System celebrates 70 years in Nigeria, earmarks US$1 billion investment in next 5 years

Oct 12, 2021Oct 12, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – Boasting of having 8 manufacturing plants, over 7,000 dealers, skilled and dedicated employees, and a sophisticated distribution system across Nigeria, there is practically no community in Nigeria where a cold bottle of Coca-Cola is not within the close reach of consumers. Marking 70 years of existence in the West African country since 1951, through its bottling arm Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited and Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, the Coca-Cola System has kicked off its platinum jubilee celebration with a raft of activities lined up to run all through the…

Diageo to expand tequila production capacity with US$500m investment in new facilities in Mexico

Oct 8, 2021Oct 8, 2021 Editor

MEXICO – British multinational brewing company Diageo is investing about US$500 million in expanding its tequila production in Mexico amid surging demand for the Mexican alcoholic drink. According to a statement from the company, the funds will be used in building new facilities in the State of Jalisco where Tequila is widely believed to have originated. The name Tequila is actually a regional-specific name for a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila which is located in Jalisco. Construction of the new…

Varun Beverages Zimbabwe rumps up production with launch of new US$12m production line

Oct 7, 2021Oct 7, 2021 Editor

ZIMBABWE – Varun Beverages Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited, the franchise bottler of PepsiCo in Zimbabwe, has commissioned a new US$12m water bottling line, with a production capacity of 15 million bottles per month. The new 400 bottle per minute line is part of the third phase of the company’s expansion project, which will bring total production capacity to 66 million bottles of sparkling beverages, cans and bottled water per month, reports The Herald. Varun Beverages Zimbabwe officially commissioned its first plant in the Southern African country in February 2018 with an…

EABL adopts new identity, unveils new US$99m corporate bond to fund operations

Oct 7, 2021Oct 7, 2021 Editor

KENYA – Regional alcohol manufacturer, East African Breweries Limited, has changed its name to East African Breweries PLC with effect from 1st October 2021. The PLC tag designates a company that has offered shares of stock to the general public, who have limited liability. ”Pursuant to the issuance of certificate of change of name by the Register of Companies, the firm has changed its name from East African Breweries Limited to East African Breweries Plc,” it said in statement. The brewer has also announced the issuance of a Ksh. 11…

Danny Celoni to succeed Peter Filipovic as CEO of Carlton & United Breweries

Oct 7, 2021Oct 7, 2021 Editor

AUSTRALIA – Beverage industry veteran Danny Celoni has been appointed by Asahi Beverages as the CEO designate of Australian brewing company Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), effective February 2022. Mr. Celoni will succeed Peter Filipovic who will continue to serve the Australian brewer as CEO untill his term elapses in February next year. Danny has had an illustrious career in the beverage industry that spans over 25 years. He commenced his beverages career with Diageo in 1996 where he rose, over a 17-year career, to become Commercial Director for Australia, NZ & South Pacific. In his time with…