UGANDA – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda, has commenced production at its recently installed US$15 million production line, at the Century Bottling Company Namanve Plant.
The beverage giant undertook the investment in a bid to boost its local production, supporting the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda agenda.
In response to that, Coca-Cola has unveiled Minute Maid Fruity Boost Mango drink, the first product from the new facility, reports Nile Post.
The milk and juice infusion drink was originally imported from Kenya, but became widely popular with many Ugandans, forcing the company to develop its production in the country.
“We are always on a quest to become a total beverage company, meeting all the refreshment and hydration needs of our consumers – Minute Maid Fruity Boost Mango fits the bill.”
General Manager CCBA in Uganda – Melkamu Abebe
Launching the new Minute Maid Fruity Boost Mango, General Manager CCBA in Uganda, Melkamu Abebe said, “We are very happy today to reveal to Ugandans a high quality, tasty and healthy nutritious drink with content that is from Ugandan farmers!
“We made a promise to Ugandans and to the Government and we are meeting that promise by bottling Minute Maid Fruity Boost Mango containing milk from Uganda.”
Abebe added that the drink was also designed for the health-conscious consumers who opt for beverages that contain natural nutrients, as well as those who like vibrant products.
“We talk about health and safety every day in many ways these days. Every contribution that everybody can make to increased health in our society is welcome – and we believe that a dairy juice blend can be added to the list.
“We are always on a quest to become a total beverage company, meeting all the refreshment and hydration needs of our consumers – Minute Maid Fruity Boost Mango fits the bill,” Abebe said.
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda bottles various non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages at its Rwenzori and Century Bottling plants in Namanve and Mbarara.
The beverages include carbonated soft drinks (sodas), juices under the Minute Mid brand, Rwenzori Pure Natural Mineral Water, and Predator and Power Play Energy drinks.
Conrad van Niekerk, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa’s Central Africa Region, said the decision to go local was premised on the company’s strategy to increase local investments in Uganda.
“I have personally believed in BUBU before I even heard the term, and I fully agree with the government policy. As a company we are walking the talk by buying more and more of our ingredients and raw materials locally from Ugandans to support both the local business community as well as Ugandan farmers,” van Niekerk said.
“Supporting the communities, we operate in is at the centre of our company strategy. We will not stop finding more opportunities to support the economy by doing business the right way,” he added.
Players in the agricultural sector are set to benefit from this development as it will provide a market for their produce.
Coca-Cola has also been an active champion of conserving the environment in the country, as it recently partnered with Nice House of Plastics, Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and Stanbic Bank to promote responsible use and re-cycling of plastic as part of its efforts to rid the world of plastic waste.
The parties, inked a Memorandum of Understanding showing their commitment towards the initiative which will support waste management projects undertaken in the country’s capital, Kampala and help plastic waste collection centres increase their capacity to collect, safely dispose and recycle plastic waste.
