Nairobi — East African Breweries Plc (EABL) and its flagship brand Tusker have kicked off a year-long campaign to celebrate 100 years of existence across East Africa.
Established in Ruaraka as a humble, riverside operation in 1922, EABL has transformed into the biggest manufacturing operating in the region, positively impacting millions in its value chain where the company sources raw material, makes and sells of its products.
EABL contributes about 1% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the outcome of over 45,000 farmers, as well as direct and indirect employment in the agriculture, distributor networks and retail outlets all employing millions in Kenya and the region.
Speaking during the announcement of the centennial campaign, EABL Group Managing Director and CEO said: "As we celebrate our 100 years, we are proud of our legacy and impact across East Africa. Our vast value chain is unparalleled and its socio-economic effect over the century continue to benefit millions across the region. These celebrations will not only take stock our heritage, deeply etched in the tapestry of our history but will also look into what the next 100 years hold for us."
KBL Managing Director, John Musunga said; "KBL year-long celebration will be involves our consumers and communities, with Tusker driving brand campaigns to connect with our fans across the country. For instance, to celebrate our culture through music and sports, we are launching Tusker Nexters, a platform for the next-generation in music and sports stars. You will see a lot more in coming days."
Looking into the future, Mrs Karuku said EABL is conscious and deliberate its sustainability for the business to last beyond the next 100 years with a set of ambitious goals to achieve by the year 2030.
"We are purposefully driving a shared prosperity agenda to guarantee value for our employees, business partners (such as distributors and retailers) and consumers. That is why we announced a Kshs 22 billion sustainability investment plan on biomass-based energy production and water recovery," said Mrs. Karuku.