ZIMBABWE Stock Exchange-listed company, African Distillers Limited (Afdis) has commissioned a new $5 million cider packaging plant with the capacity to produce 4 200 litres per hour, a company official has said.
TARISAI MANDIZHA BUSINESS REPORTER
Speaking at the official commissioning of the new cider plant yesterday, Afdis chairperson Joe Mutizwa said the installation of the plant would improve the company’s production by 59%.
“This investment has resulted in the businesses installed annual production capacity improving from 34 million litres to 54 million litres. The new packaging line will produce 4 200 litres per hour, a huge improvement from the 1 300 litres produced on the old lines,” Mutizwa said.
He said previously Afdis activities were centred on the sale and distribution of imported spirits and wines.
To date, Afdis now manufactures the bulk of the products it markets and currently operates with six depots situated in Bulawayo, Harare, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Mutare and Victoria Falls.
He said even though the plant was designed for new range of products, it would allow production of existing products at competitive efficiency levels benefitting both business partners downstream as well as valued customers.
He, however, said the new investment would create jobs and save the nation from reliance on imported products.
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The new plant has the capacity to do 1 500 bottles per hour and this will contribute to the reduction in prices to 22% and 25%.
“As the business focuses on expansion, this investment will bring with it competitive advantage as we venture into the regional exports. The future of Afdis is placed on a very sound footing for decades to come with this initiative which supports government plans on the restoration of the manufacturing sector of our country,” Mutizwa said.
Speaking at the same event, Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha said Afdis had made a significant capital and capacity development impact on the Zimbabwean economy.
“It is, thus, encouraging and worth to repeat that despite the current liquidity constraints in the economy and limited access to lines of credit, companies in the sector like, Mutare Bottling Company, Schweppes Zimbabwe and Delta Beverages have all acquired state-of-the-art machinery and technology in the past 18 months,” Bimha said.
