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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent—
THE country’s leading beverage manufacturer, Delta Beverages, has set aside $26 million dollars for the setting up of two additional Chibuku Super plants at its Kwekwe and Masvingo Breweries. Delta already has invested extensively in two plants at its Chitungwiza and Fairbridge Breweries in Bulawayo which have a combined capacity of producing 2.2 million litres of the Chibuku Super brand a month.
The local listed entity is in the process of expanding the Fairbridge Brewery which will see capacity increasing to 2.4 million litres by March.
Delta Beverages corporate affairs manager, Tsungai Manyeza said surging demand for Chibuku Super brand has necessitated the setting up of the new plants.
He said: “The company has capacity to supply 2.2 million litres of Chibuku Super in the 1.25 litre pack from the two factories at Chitungwiza and Fairbridge.
“This is expected to increase to 2.4 million litres when additional brewing tanks are installed at Fairbridge by March 2016.
“While the Kwekwe Brewery will be closed temporarily from February 2016, the Masvingo unit will remain open during the rebuilding exercise.
“It may close for a short while later in the year to allow for plant integration.
“At the moment there’s enough capacity for the supply of the 2-litre Scud into the Midlands and Masvingo territories,” said Manyeza.
The $26 million investment will be channelled towards the PET packaging plants and brewing tanks, grain handling equipment and civil works.
Equipment for both plants will be imported from Germany and South Africa. Chibuku Super has spurred Delta sales following subdued demand in sparkling beverages.
The falling in demand of lager beers saw the company’s revenue for the nine months to September 2015 decrease by seven percent.
derick.khumalo