(Ecofin Agency) - Bidco has started construction of a Sh4 billion beverage factory in Thika, Kenya. This plant could compromise the domination of Coca Cola and Del Monte in the non-alcoholic drinks market.

With the plant, Bidco will have two processing lines, with a combined capacity of 48,000 bottles per hour, and another factory which will produce up to 100 million plastic bottles per year. Overall, annual production capacity is 50 million liters to be split among energy drinks, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, and mineral water.

For Bidco, the project which was funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is part of a Sh20 billion blueprint to increase its turnover four-fold. The firm aims to expand its production to consumption goods such as toothpastes or paper rolls. Up till now it dealt only with edible oils, animal feed and detergents.  

Aaron Akinocho