Mars Wrigley Confectionery to open chewing gum plant in Kenya

According to media reports, the facility in Kenya will be the only one in Africa serving East African countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Once in operation, the factory will produce 7.8 bn pellets of chewing gum annually, thereby raising the market share in Kenya to 75%.

This was disclosed by board member Victoria Mars, who paid President Uhuru Kenyatta a courtesy call in Nairobi. Kenyatta called on the company to take advantage of the recently-adopted agreement to establish a continental free trade area (AfCFTA) to increase its production to serve African countries. Kenyatta said his government would continue to improve the country’s environment to do business. The new factory would not only create jobs, but also provide opportunities for small and medium enterprises through its expanded value chain, he added.

Victoria Mars assured the President that Mars Wrigley Confectionery and its global parent firm Mars Inc. is committed to working with the government, and being a part of Kenya’s increasing presence as a manufacturing hub in Africa.