Cremora

Nestlé opens Potchefstroom coffee creamer factory

Nestlé South Africa has officially opened its tenth manufacturing facility in South Africa, a new coffee creamer factory in Potchefstroom, North West province. The new facility will manufacture Cremora coffee creamer, adding capacity to the existing creamer manufacturing facility in Babelegi, Gauteng.

The world’s biggest food company, like many consumer goods companies, is seeking to tap into the growing African market of one-billion people. Consumer spending on the continent is set to reach $2,6-trillion by 2020, according to Ernst & Young. 

“The investment is aligned to Nestlé’s ambition to stimulate job creation and add value to the communities where we do business,” spokesperson Ravi Pillay said in a statement.

This development that follows Nestle’s R106-million acquisition of Potch-based Specialised Protein Products announced early last year. A further R150-million will be invested in the next 18 months for general upgrading of this facility. The acquisition also included absorbing 142 employees.

This purchase will increase the production capacity of Nestlé’s non-dairy creamers and give the company an opportunity to develop good quality and affordable soya-based products, it said.

Nestlé South Africa MD and chairperson Sullivan O’Carroll said the Potchefstroom developments demonstrated the company’s ongoing commitment to foreign direct investment, to business sustainability and economic development in South Africa and the rest of the African continent.

In three years, Nestlé will celebrate its centenary in South Africa. The company has about 4 000 employees and it has attained Level 4 black economic-empowerment contributor status.