HARARE - Delta Corporation, Zimbabwe’s biggest brewer and company by market value, will next week commission its new $17 million beverages bottling plant that has a capacity to produce 700 000 hectolitres (70 million litres) per annum.

The new beer plant is expected to be more efficient on utilities like water and electricity which will be a major cost reduction mechanism and add to its other production lines that have been recently installed in order to increase output and production.

George Mutendadzamera, Delta’s corporate director yesterday said the state-of-the-art production line has the capacity to produce 42 000 pints per hour.

“It also has the capacity to run both returnable and non-returnable glass bottles and has a shrink wrapping capability,” he said during a tour of the plant.

“Its capabilities are truly world class and this places Delta at a new level in terms of competitiveness.”
Mutendadzamera said Delta has invested in excess of $200 million to improve capacity and, therefore, better service for its customers.

“Since 2009 the company has been on a very aggressive recapitalisation programme, and this new machine will improve supplies significantly and eliminate the current intermittent shortages of some product lines,” he said.

Delta, which is owned 40 percent by SABMiller, recently became the first Zimbabwean company to reach $1 billion market capitalisation on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

We are also investing in new fermentation vessels at both Southerton and Belmont lager at a cost in in excess of $4 million said Mutendadzamera.

“The impact will be significant and should place us in a position to adequately meet lagers demand for the foreseeable future. Not only will these investments increase capacity but they cement our place as a serious investor in the country.”

In its last full-year results Delta Corporation posted a 38 percent rise in full-year earnings, driven by strong demand for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. -
John Kachembere