USA: Mars to build $69 million Wrigley plant in Kenya

International confectionery giant Mars is to spend $69 million constructing a new manufacturing facility for its Wrigley’s chewing gum division in Kenya, according to a report in the Daily Nation.

Once complete, the new plant will produce 7.8 billion pellets of chewing gum annually, raising Mars’ market share in chewing gum in Kenya to 75%. Aside from Kenya, the plant is also expected to serve other east African markets such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Mars existing plant in Kenya, which was opened in 1972, is currently the firm’s only manufacturing presence in Africa.

Commenting on the move at a meeting with Kenya’s President Kenyatta,  Victoria Mars, board member and immediate former chairperson of Mars, said: “Your goal to boost local manufacturing capacity is timely and offers a great opportunity to expand employment and job creation for Kenyans, while cementing the country’s position as a key industrial hub in Africa. Wrigley is keen on growing and developing our business here and contributing to this noble objective”.

Source: Daily Nation / APA News