AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Ugandan dairy processor Pearl Dairy lays off 1500 workers as milk ban bites hard

Mar 23, 2021Mar 23, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Uganda’s leading dairy processor Pearl Diaries has been forced to lay off over 1,500 workers following stifled milk market access, after Kenya imposed a ban on the product imports from its neighbouring country over a year ago. Uganda produces 2.6 billion litres of milk per annum. However, about 800 million litres are consumed on the domestic market leaving the surplus for the international market. The recent past had witnessed an increase in supply of cheap milk from Uganda to Kenya, leading to local processors raise concerns on the…

Ugandan dairy processor Pearl Dairy nears completion of honey processing factory

Mar 11, 2021Mar 11, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Pearl Dairy Farms, Uganda’s largest dairy processor has revealed that its honey processing facility is 90% complete and will be commissioned beginning of April. The producer of Lato Milk brand announced its diversification from the dairy industry last year, revealing that it will invest more than Ush10 bn (US$2.7m) into commercial honey production. The move is in a bid to create an additional revenue stream, given the challenges that are facing the country’s milk sector of not accessing most East Africa Community markets. The program is also undertaken…

Kenya, Uganda milk products trade still strained forcing farmers to venture into other sectors

Feb 19, 2021Feb 19, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Kenya has in the last one year had trade related tensions with its landlocked neighbour Uganda, especially on milk products, which saw hundreds of tonnes of milk from Uganda confiscated in 2020. According to statistic shared by Nile Post, Uganda’s milk product exports to Kenya were worth US$ 62.9 million in 2018 but earnings have since fallen to US$30 million. The trade barriers have made farmers in Uganda to turn away from the once lucrative dairy sector to venture into other activities like beef production and bee keeping…

Pearl Dairy ventures into honey production injecting US$2.7m worth of investment

Sep 5, 2020Sep 5, 2020 Editor

UGANDA – The largest dairy processor in Uganda, Pearl Dairy Farms is seeking to diversify into commercial honey production, investing more than Ush10 bn (US$2.7m) into the venture. According to reports by Daily Monitor, the dairy processor will undertake the initiative in partnership with local dairy farmers as it seeks to diversify both the company and farmers’ incomes, given challenges that have faced the milk production and processing industry. More than 10,000 dairy farmers in the south western districts of Ntungamo, Kabale, Lyantonde, Mubende, Mbarara, Kiruhura, Bushenyi, Rukungiri and Sheema…

Ugandan milk processor Pearl Dairy expands market share into Ethiopia, S. Sudan, Malawi

Aug 25, 2020Aug 26, 2020 Editor

UGANDA – Pearl Dairy Farm Limited (PDFL), the largest dairy processor in Uganda, marketing its products under its flagship brand LATO, has expanded its footprint to Ethiopia, Malawi and South Sudan. From its Mbarara factory in western Uganda, PDFL manufactures yoghurt, full cream powdered milk, skimmed powdered milk, instant full cream powdered milk, UHT milk, ghee and butter oil. The plant has a daily capacity to process 800,000 litres of milk. In the initial phase, PDFL will export yoghurt and milk powder. This was decided after the company carried out…

Pearl Dairy, Nile Breweries donates food stuffs to curb the effects of COVID-19

Apr 14, 2020Jun 8, 2020 Editor

UGANDA – Pearl Dairy Farm Limited, the largest dairy processor in Uganda marketing its products under the flagship brand LATO, has donated liquid milk worth UGX 345 million (US$91,600) to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The 41,200 litres of liquid were donated to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the Indian Association of Uganda with OPM receiving milk worth UGX 225 million (US$59,700) while the Indian Association of Uganda received milk worth UGX 120 million (US$31,800). Pearl Dairy head of sales, Mr Nirav Patel said,…

American investment fund The Rise Fund invests in Uganda’s Pearl Dairy

Nov 7, 2019Nov 7, 2019 Editor

UGANDA – The Rise Fund, a global impact investment fund managed by American private equity firm, TPG Capital has acquired a 34% stake in Uganda’s leading dairy company, Pearl Dairy. Pearl, which markets its products under the flagship brand LATO, is the largest dairy processor in Uganda, with installed processing capacity of 800,000 liters of raw milk per day. Operating since 2013, Pearl Dairy’s vision is to create more consistent demand for Uganda’s smallholder farmers, while promoting more hygienic milk production techniques. Since inception, the company has grown rapidly to…