Diageo Completes $344 Million Brewery Investment
Diageo has officially opened a new $119 million bottling line expansion at Meta Abo Brewery in Sebeta marking the culmination of $344 million investment in Ethiopia. The investment triples the annual capacity of the brewery to 1.7 million HL just three years after acquisition, ensuring that the brewery can meet future consumer demand and support the introduction of new product innovations to the Ethiopian market such as Zemen Lager Beer launched by Meta Abo in December 2014.
The German-manufactured Krones bottling line uses state of the art technology, including flash pasteurization, to package products without any human intervention – achieving even higher quality control and upgrading the brewery’s packaging capacity by nearly 50%. The new line is highly efficient, reducing waste and the amount of water used in the brewing process.
Ivan Menezes chief executive of Diageo, comments: “Ethiopia is a country of enormous opportunity. Our commitment here, and to Africa as a whole, is absolute. We will continue to invest in the long-term growth of our brands, the Meta business, our people and the communities in which we operate, for the benefit of all.”
Diageo has also officially opened Meta Abo’s newest Water of Life project in Sebeta – part of Diageo’s flagship Water of Life programme which has provided 50,000 beneficiaries in Ethiopia with access to clean drinking water. The new project will provide clean water to 2,000 households in Sebeta through a borehole that the community will independently manage.
Since Diageo’s acquisition of Meta Abo Brewery in January 2012, the company has adhered to a clear strategy with the aim of transforming the brewing industry in Ethiopia. Over the last three years Diageo has invested in Meta Abo employees with training and skills development; supported local communities through provision of clean water and formed close partnerships with local farmers; re-launched the Meta brand and now tripled capacity at the brewery, providing a strong platform for future growth of Meta Abo.
