World famous gum maker, Wrigley has started the construction of a new Sh5.8 billion ($63 million) factory in Mavoko, Kenya. The plant is expected to double the gum maker’s production capacity and further ward off competition.
The company says production will commence at the new plant by April, 2017, doubling its annual output to 7.84 billion pellets. The old factory will be shut down once the new one – which sits on 20 acres of land – comes on board. “The upcoming factory will double the capacity of our existing facility in Industrial Area,” said Wanja Mwangi, Wrigley East Africa’s corporate affairs manager.
Mwangi noted that the investment affords Wrigley the chance to venture into the production of other types of confectioneries in the future. The American company currently produces top gum brands like Big G, PK, Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Orbit.
Wrigley is Kenya’s leading gum manufacturer with a market share of 75 percent. Competitor, Lotte Confectionery Company Ltd, has just 14 percent of the market.
The company, which is a subsidiary of Virginia-based Mars started production in Kenya 43 years ago. It has not opened another manufacturing plant on the continent since then.
