SOUTH AFRICA – Nestlé South Africa has officially opened a new instant coffee manufacturing plant in Estcourt following expansion works at the factory.
The R1.2 billion (US$83 million) investment into the expansion of the factory forms part of the company’s R2.9 billion (US$200 million) direct investment in the last five years in the country.
“Investments of this magnitude demonstrate the Nestlé Group’s commitment to long-term business building and the economic development in Africa.
Through this investment, we will increase the capacity of our coffee factory and meet the growing consumer demand for coffee in the region,” said Ravi Pillay, Corporate Affairs Director for Nestlé South Africa.
The expansion includes the construction of a waste water treatment plant, a new coffee processing plant, the upgrading existing coffee processing and a coffee drying plant. Since construction commenced, at least 20 direct and more than 470 indirect jobs were created.
2016 marks Nestlé’s 100th year of operations in South Africa. The Estcourt factory is one of the first three factories that the company acquired when it established its presence in South Africa in 1916, according to the company.
“We are extremely proud to be inaugurating this factory in our centenary year. For 100 years we have been manufacturing proudly South African products for South Africans by South Africans and contributing to the local economy through job creation and foreign direct investment,” stated Pillay.
Nestlé South Africa has eight manufacturing facilities, three distribution centres and 3500 full time permanent employees in South Africa.
