Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said mid this week while unveiling the spirits manufacturing plant that the government will continue putting in place better investment conditions so that the private sector can create jobs while paying state taxes.
“I commend Serengeti Breweries for the additional investment into the country which will improve livelihoods of the people and stimulate economic growth,” Majaliwa said while reiterating the government’s commitment to support serious investors such as SBL.
Briefing the PM on the expansion project, SBL’s Managing Director, Mark Ocitti said under a three-year investment plan worth 166bn/-, the brewer is increasing production capacity its breweries in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza also.
Ocitti said the project which started in 2019 will see the brewer boost its production in its three breweries in addition to establishing the state of the art spirit manufacturing facility in Moshi municipality of Kilimanjaro region.
“This expansion will create increased demand for cereals that SBL buys from local farmers who cultivate maize, barley and sorghum for beer production. It will create more direct and indirect job opportunities and expand the company product distribution footprint nationally,” he noted.
The SBL chief stated that the expansion also means generating more revenue for Treasury in terms of taxes, fees and levies. “The new spirits production facility will produce mainstream spirit products locally and, in so doing, enable SBL to become more competitive in the spirits business,” Ocitti added while pointing out that prior to opening of the facility, the brewer was a net importer of spirits brands.
The new spirits making facility can produce various brands including those currently imported while also introducing new brand known as Bongo Don, which Ocitti described as being a truly local product of world-class quality. SBL currently employs over 800 staff both directly and many others indirectly.
Incorporated in 1988 as Associated Breweries, SBL is the second largest beer company in the country with its beer brands accounting for over 25 percent of the market share by volume. Since the creation of SBL in 2002, the business has grown its portfolio of brands year on year. The majority stake acquisition by East African Breweries Limited, a subsidiary of London based Diageo Plc in 2010 has seen increased investment in international quality standards leading to greater job opportunities for local people.
SBL’s major brands in the market include: Serengeti Premium Lager, Serengeti Lite, Pilsner Lager, Pilsner King, Tusker Lager, Tusker Lite, Kibo Gold, Guinness stout […]