Mars Inc., a US confectionery giant, plans to pump KSh7 billion ($69.3 million) into the construction of a chewing-gum production factory in Kenya. CEO Victoria Mars announced yesterday May 23 following a meeting with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.

The facility which will be implanted over 8 ha in Athi River, is set to produce about 7.8 billion chewing-gum per year. It will be managed by Wrigley East Africa, a subsidiary of Mars’ branch (acquired in 2008 for $23 billion).

Through this new investment, Wrigley East Africa which already held 87% of Kenyan chewing-gum market will further its presence in the country and expand within the region. Let’s note that it also operates in Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Wrigley was created in 1891 in Chicago. It implanted the first factory in Kenya in 1972 and now holds many flagship brands such as Doublemint, Orbit, Freedent, and Airwaves.

Espoir Olodo