Nestlé South Africa officially inaugurated its instant coffee manufacturing plant in Estcourt yesterday (Tuesday) after a R1.2-billion investment in the expansion of the factory.
This forms part of the company's R2.9-billion foreign direct investment in the last five years. The expansion includes the construction of a waste water treatment plant, a new coffee processing plant, the upgrading of existing coffee processing and a state-of-the-art coffee drying plant.
“Through this investment, we will increase the capacity of our coffee factory and meet the growing consumer demand for coffee in the region,” said Ravi Pillay, corporate affairs director for Nestlé South Africa.
2016 marks Nestlé’s 100th year of operations in South Africa. The Estcourt factory is one of the first three factories that the company acquired when it established its presence in South Africa in 1916.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, said the coffee plant was a “significant boost for South Africa and the local economy of KwaZulu Natal”.
“The upgrade and expansion in the Estcourt plant positions Nestlé as a coffee manufacturing hub for the African continent. The dti has a long-standing relationship with Nestlé and has provided support through incentives, supplier development and facilitation of their investment,” said Davies.
