KENYA – In order to impart bartenders with competitive industry skills, Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) has launched a capability training programme dubbed Diageo Bartenders Academy whose aim is to upscale, build capacity and foster trade engagement.

According to reports by Africa Business Communities, the academy intends to train 10,000 bartenders in the country over the next four months. 

The academy will bring practical knowledge to Kenyan bartenders who want to better their skills and inspire them to take their jobs as valid career options. 

“We want to build a very strong bartenders’ movement in Kenya. Our consumer’s taste, and needs are evolving every day, therefore it is important we champion this course.”

KBL Commercial Director – Joel Kamau

The program will enlighten them about customer service, the art of bartending, tools of the trade, bartender secrets, drink categories, spirit production, brand knowledge, perfect serves, counterfeit spotting, up-selling and, importantly responsible serving.

KBL Commercial Director, Joel Kamau said that the program, “Will sharpen the skills of bartenders in Kenya, and as well raise the profile of the art form of bar service.”

He added, “We want to build a very strong bartenders’ movement in Kenya. Our consumer’s taste, and needs are evolving every day, therefore it is important we champion this course.

“While building these amazing people skills, we are also giving back to the communities that we work in and watching bartenders develop their careers here in Kenya.”

The launch comes at a time when the alcohol industry in Kenya has begun recovering following commencement of operations from closures of outlets triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other than sharpening the skills of the industry players, the subsidiary of East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has launched the US$3 million ‘Raise the Bar’ fund aimed to help the hospitality industry recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The two-year programme is part of the US$100 million kitty launched by its holding company Diageo in July across its different markets i.e., New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Sydney and beyond.

The funds will be utilized to purchase equipment such as hygiene kits, permanent sanitizer dispenser units, hand sanitizers, masks, and protection screens for bars that cannot maintain the one metre social distance.

In addition, it will also enable the establishments obtain mobile bars and outdoor equipment as well as undertake partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems, developing contactless technology.

Through the programme, KBL has partnered with AMREF to train bar staff on the safety measures they need to take to protect themselves and their customers.

Other than Kenya, KBL’s sister companies i.e., Uganda Breweries Limited in Uganda and Serengeti Breweries Limited in Tanzania will each get US$1 million for the initiative.

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