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Manufacturing
Africa has been hailed as the next frontier in the provision of global oil and natural gas resources, especially now in the wake of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
This crisis has not only altered the global energy landscape, but also instigated an inflation in gas prices, given the former’s position in the hierarchy of major global producers. As sanctions continue to soar, Europe has embarked on a quest to find contingency energy supplies, as it seeks to minimize its dependency on Russia; which has already cut off gas supplies to countries like Finland, Poland and Bulgaria, over energy payment disputes.
Consequently, Africa’s gas resources have gained a newly found prominence, pertinently by the European Union (EU); owing to the continent’s rich endowment of oil and deep gas reserves. The mounting global demand for gas, has been pushing international energy companies to reconsider African projects. The numerous ongoing and upcoming oil …
However, all efforts have been directed in that sector to try and make it greener and cleaner. Among consumers, a major shift is now being witnessed with most of the industries investing in clean energy sources that are both affordable and sustainable.
Such initiatives have made Kenya be rated among the top countries that are implementing their nationally determined contributions that seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the country by 32 per cent by 2030.
The latest industry to have made noted efforts to transit to clean Energy is Bamburi Cement Factory situated in Bamburi Mombasa.…
- Varun Beverages has become one of the country’s biggest beverage firms in Zimbabwe
- Delta has had a firm grip on the Zimbabwean drinks market and is home to international brands of soft drinks and beers
- Varun is on an aggressive urban assault to capture more market share and challenge the drinks giant.
Varun Beverages has become one of the country’s bigger soft drinks firms in Zimbabwe within a relatively short period.
Bottlers of Pepsi, 7up and Mirinda brands, Varun has established itself as one of the soft drinks companies to reckon with in the soft drinks market.
This is an impressive achievement given it is going toe-to-toe with long-established Delta, Zimbabwe’s most prominent beverage firm with big brands such as Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite.
Since the colonial era, Delta has had a firm grip on the Zimbabwean drinks market and is home to international brands of soft …
PepsiCo, has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of South African based company, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd. for R110.00 per share in cash (approximately US $1.7 billion).
This represents a 56% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average price prior to the cautionary announcement on July 15, 2019.
Pioneer Foods has a robust, locally relevant product portfolio that complements PepsiCo’s current lineup, with strong positions in cereals, juices, and other African nutritional food staples, including well-known, scaled brands like Weet-Bix, Liqui-Fruit, Ceres, Sasko, Safari, Spekko, and White Star.
Pioneer Foods is one of the largest South African producers and distributors of a range of branded food and beverage products and posted revenue of R20.2 billion in 2018. The Group operates mainly across South Africa and exports to more than 80 countries across the globe inclusive of a number of countries in
Kenya’s Strathmore University, in collaboration with SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors have released research findings of a production and manufacturing industry in Kenya .
The study explored productivity and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Kenya, from close to 100 companies drawn from 12 sectors on the role of new technologies in improving the sector and the state of adoption and use of these new technologies.
The study, titled “An Investigation into the Implementation of Technological Aids and ERP Solutions in the Manufacturing Industry in Kenya”, had Prof. Ismail Ateya, Dean of Research and Innovation, as the principal investigator and Prof. Reuben Marwanga as the co-investigator.
The findings were presented at a launch event attended by Betty Maina, the Principal Secretary, State Department of Investment and Industry in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, and Dr. Vincent Ogutu, Vice …
Tapping into its global strategy, the Coca-Cola System in Kenya has unveiled its innovative portfolio of beverages into the market to offer customers more choice and convenience.
The organization, which is evolving to become a Total Beverage Company, has been reshaping its growth strategy and operating model in line with changing consumer tastes and buying habits.
Since 2017, it has broadened its product offerings in various category clusters including water, nectar juice, ready to drink coffee, tea bags and sports drinks.
Amongst the new products launched this week was an addition to the Minute Maid portfolio; Minute Maid Nutridefenses – a nectar juice fortified with vitamin E and Zinc, a suitable addition to the breakfast occasion.
Coke plus Coffee; a fusion of Coca-Cola and coffee with a formulation of added coffee and fifty percent less sugar. This drink targets the afternoon slump to help rejuvenate consumers and give them the …
Over 50 per cent of Kenyan manufacturers feel the sector is struggling to compete with developed countries with equal pressure coming from regional states, a study has revealed.
This is in the wake of continued high costs of doing business in the country with the local market further being infiltrated by cheap imports mainly from China.
READ:What is hurting manufacturing in Kenya
The study has been unveiled by SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for manufacturers and distributors, together with Strathmore University.
External factors
In the findings, energy leads as the top factor affecting businesses with a 54 per cent prevalence followed solely by the country’s political climate which accounts for 50 per cent of effect to investments.
The third most toxic factor affecting businesses is taxes with 43 per cent prevalence. Others are cheap imports (40%), exchange rates and raw materials each at …
Over seven hundred and eighty micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya’s Lake Region are set to benefit from the new, ultra-modern Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) regional headquarters in Kisumu.
The new facility not only houses the KEBS regional offices but is also equipped with four laboratories including Food and Agriculture, Microbiology, Biochemistry and Instrumentation. The laboratories will offer testing, metrology and calibration services to the Lake Region industries including fishing and fisheries, water purification and bottling, tea factories, grains and cereals, sugar, animal feeds, fertilizers and the hospitality sector.
Speaking during the official opening of the facility, KEBS Ag. Managing Director Lt. Col (Rtd). Bernard Njiraini reiterated the institution’s commitment to promoting standardization in industry and trade at the county level through investing in requisite resources and infrastructure for standards development, conformity assessment, testing and metrology.
“The Kisumu office will ensure that the region receives adequate support …
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is spearheading a countrywide inter-agency initiative targeting stakeholders of Kenya’s informal craftsmen popularly known as Jua Kali to unlock barriers hindering their growth. KEBS, whose key mandate is to ensure standards are adhered to while ensuring fair and just trade, is working with the Kenya Revenue Authority, Anti-Counterfeit Authority, Export Promotion Council, KenInvest and Youth Enterprise Fund.
In the past stakeholders mainly from the Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Association have cited tough regulations that introduce layers of red tape across government agencies as huge barriers to their survival.
“We are cognizant of the key role the MSME sector plays in Kenya’s economy. These forums are important to not
only understand their challenges but also explore ways of working across agencies to create an enabling environment anchored on simplified procedures and regulations,” said Dr. Henry Rotich, Director of the Metrology and Testing Division …
