FDBusiness.com

SABMiller, the world’s second largest brewer, has completed the first phase of a $100 million brewery expansion project at its site at Accra in Ghana. The programme will see SABMiller’s Ghanaian subsidiary, Accra Brewery, double its brewing capacity and allow it to continue to grow production and sales of its flagship local brand, Club Premium Lager, and the other brands in its portfolio.

Mark Bowman, managing director of SABMiller Africa, says: “We have made significant investments in our West African operations over the last three years, including our new and expanded brewery in Onitsha, Nigeria, and the expansion of our site in Accra. The long-term growth potential for the African beer market is enormous and the investments we are making today will ensure that we are prepared to capture the growth tomorrow.”

Work undertaken during the first phase of the project in Accra includes installation of new packaging lines, ten beer storage vessels, warehouse and storage facilities and two new autonomous power generators. The second phase of the project will include installation of a new effluent treatment plant, new brewing equipment and upgrading the municipal water supply, as well as other upgrades on the site to be completed before the end of 2015.

The first phase of expansion has created an additional 100 permanent new jobs at the brewery, adding to the existing local workforce of just over 500. The expanded production capacity of the new site will also generate growth and job creation opportunities for the local suppliers and other small retail and distribution businesses in Accra Brewery’s value chain. The company currently sources locally grown brewing materials such as maize, cassava, sorghum and rice from approximately 3,500 local farmers.