Ethiopia: New beer factory to be set in Addis Ababa
A new beer factory is in the making in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, by private Ethiopian investors, Capital published, April 2.
The beer factory is to be set up around Dukem, 35 kms south of Addis Ababa and would bring the number of beer factories to six, after Meta Abo S.C, Harar, Bedele, BGI, and Dashen breweries.
Although they had spent four years in prison over allegations of corruption, the three owners of Star Business Group (SBG), Minwuyelet Atnafu, Abebaw Gelaye and Abebaw Desta are full of project ideas since they were acquited in 2005. These businesspeople are participating in this latest venture with Kangaroo Plast Plc, a family owned business group with diverse interests.
Sources told Capital that representatives of the two companies were in Germany to view machinery for the intended factory. The new factory would enter a beer industry which is believed to be a large market and where current breweries are expanding.
SBG was one of the contenders for the acquisition of the three breweries, which have a loyal circle of customers. Bedele, Harar, and Meta Abo were put up for privatization several times in the last couple of years by the Ethiopian Privatization Agency (EPA).
The previously planned sale of the breweries by EPA was not a success as potential buyers showed neither the skills nor the financial clout to take over three of the country’s biggest breweries.
The other private company, Dashen, used to produce about 26,200,000 liters of beer every year in 300 ml capacity bottles. Following an upgrade, the company is expected to produce about 75,000,000 liters per year.
Present in Ethiopia since 1998, BGI -Ethiopia operates two state-of-the-art bottling plants in Addis Ababa and Kombolcha, Northern Wollo and produces 100,000 hectoliters per month. BGI claims that it has more than 50% of market share.
Worku Merga, General Manager of Star Business Group, declined to comment on the story.
Înapoi
(libra 0.7461 sec.)