From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Health foods manufacturer Futurelife has opened a new factory in KwaZulu-Natal. Darren Parker tells us more.

Darren Parker:

Futurelife, which is owned by food and beverage company PepsiCo South Africa, has opened a brand new manufacturing facility in the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in KwaZulu-Natal.

The R75-million modern factory, located minutes away from the King Shaka International Airport, has been designed to streamline production processes, enhancing efficiency and flexibility to better meet the evolving needs of the company’s customer base. The facility will also have a design studio for developing new products. 

Engineering News attended the factory launch and spoke to PepsiCo CEO Riaan Heyl about the reasons behind the investment and what the future holds for the Futurelife brand.

PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl...

Darren Parker:

The next phase of the new facility investment will see Futurelife use the factory’s 8 500 m² roof for solar energy, which will be accomplished through the integration of solar energy systems into the facility's operations.

Rainwater gathering initiatives will also contribute to the factory's sustainable water practices.

PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl...

Darren Parker:

Locating the new factory within the Dube TradePort SEZ was a conscious choice designed to ensure more efficient operations while reducing logistics costs, as compared to the company’s previous manufacturing facility further inland in Pinetown.

It is also hoped that the new facility will provide more jobs for the surrounding communities.

PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl...

Darren Parker:

Over the past three years, Futurelife has become the fastest-growing breakfast cereal and breakfast bar brand in South Africa, with an estimated one box of Futurelife cereal sold per second in the country.

This made it an easy decision for PepsiCo to acquire 100% of the brand effective July 1.

PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl...

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.