Thika-based pineapple juice giant Del Monte will this August open an Sh500 million fruits factory processing plant within its Thika-Muranga Highway.
The initiative that is expected to create up to 200 new jobs for locals will also see the company which has specialized mainly on pineapple juice products for decades, expand its production portfolio to other fruits like avocados, mangoes and passion fruits.
The new plant will have a processing capacity of 60 tonnes of fresh fruits per year which will be sourced from Kiambu and neighbouring Murang’a County, according to Del Monte Managing Director, Stergios Gkaliamoutsas.
“Del Monte Kenya plans to source fruit from local and regional growers in Murang’a and Kiambu counties. We will prepare and package the products from the new Del Monte facility for both local and international markets,” Gkaliamoutsas is quoted by Business Daily as saying.
The MD added that they will also be seeking to supply pineapples, mangoes and passion fruits to Coca-Cola 'for the production of a new range of health-conscious drinks launched last week'.
The company currently employs more than 6,500 employees and creates about 28,000 indirect jobs through the production and value addition chain, Business Daily documents.