TANZANIA – Bakhresa Food Products (BFP), a subsidiary of the Bakhresa Group, has announced plans to increase its fruit processing capacity, aiming to double annual throughput from 45,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes.
The expansion comes as the company seeks to meet rising demand from both domestic and international markets.
The company plans to invest 20 billion Tanzanian Shillings (US$8.07M) in the expansion of its Mwandege plant, located in Mkuranga, Coast Region. According to Mr. Hussein Sufian, Bakhresa Group’s Head of Public Relations, the project is set to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
“We believe by the end of this financial year, the expansion of the plant will be completed, enabling us to process about 100,000 tonnes of fruits annually,” Mr. Sufian stated during the launch of the revamped African Fruti brand logo and packaging.
The refresh of the African Fruti brand involved an investment of 12 billion Tanzanian Shillings (US$4.8M), which included the installation of a modern packaging machine.
Support for local farmers and employment creation
BFP currently sources fruits such as mangoes, pineapples, oranges, passion fruits, and tamarinds from around 150,000 farmers.
The planned expansion is expected to provide a market for even more farmers, strengthening Tanzania’s agricultural value chain.
Since its inception, BFP has invested 700 billion Tanzanian Shillings (US$282.4M) and created 2,000 direct jobs, as well as 30,000 indirect employment opportunities for vendors of its products, which include juices, sodas, ice cream, and bottled water.
The firm’s tax contributions are also notable, with 180 billion Tanzanian Shillings (US$72.6M) paid last year and an estimated 200 billion Tanzanian Shillings (US$80.7M) expected this year.
Minister encourages local fruit supply and consumption
Speaking at the launch, Tanzania’s Minister for Industry and Trade, Dr. Selemani Jafo, urged citizens to take an active role in supplying fruits to the company’s processing plants and emphasized the importance of supporting locally made goods.
“By preferring local products, we can drive the growth of the manufacturing sector. The government is committed to supporting manufacturers to thrive,” Dr. Jafo said.
Regional and international export expansion
Beyond serving the local market, BFP exports its products to countries across East Africa and beyond, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Somalia, and Mozambique.
The company also reaches markets as far as Yemen, China, and Madagascar.
