Coca-Cola has taken on Uganda Breweries Ltd in a battle of the non- alcoholic drinks. Last week Coca Cola unveiled Novida, its new light malt non-alcoholic drink on the Ugandan market in what is clearly seen as an attempt to fight off the entry of Uganda Breweries Ltd. Coca Cola`s Novida and UBL`s Alvaro come in fruit flavours including pineapple, pear and orange and is also bottled in 300Ml bottle. While Novida retails at Shs700 a bottle Alvaro goes for Shs900 per bottle. Both companies are targeting the non-alcohol drinker’s especially young adults. Coca-Cola is poised to spend US$1 million, to position its Novida on the Uganda market. Novida was first launched in Kenya in 2008 where it is said to be doing well.
The launch of the drink onto the Ugandan market is part of Coca-Cola’s strategic plan to fit into the changing consumer demands and taste preferences. Novida will be unveiled in all the company’s East and Central Africa markets.
Fed-Ex partner, East Africa courier quits
American based Fed-Ex, an international courier, and the East African Courier Ltd (EACL), a regional courier service provider have parted company after a 12 year business relationship. The top brass at the two companies said they had ended their collaboration to go it solo. During their just ended collaboration the EACL serviced Fed-Ex on the domestic and regional network. Both companies cite getting more specialised as key to their breakup. EACL has connections and footprint in the region which gives it forward motion to go out on its own. Pax Transport which all along represented FedEx in Uganda said the affiliation was ended to enable them specialise.
UBA offers utility payment facility
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has signed separate partnership agreements with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) under which the banks customers can do all their transactions under one roof. UBA joins other commercial banks like Stanbic, Barclays, Diamond Trust and Standard Chartered that are already providing the service. UBA’s Managing Director Margaret Mwanakatwe said the partnership will make it easy for the bank’s customers and the general public to pay taxes and other utility bills in time. Mwanakatwe said the bank had introduced the “Under-one Roof Banking” to ease things for their customers while making payments. URA’s Assistant Commissioner for Finance Edna Rugumayo said e-tax through United Bank for Africa will be available to large and medium domestic tax payers and is expected to be expanded to include customs payments by June.
Coca Cola, Gates aid Farmers
Over 50,000 fruit farmers in Uganda and Kenya are to receive funding to increase their yields and double their incomes in four years, following the signing of a US$11.5 million partnership deal between TechnoServe and two other organisations. The money will go into training farmers to improve quality, increase production and help them form farmers groups. TechnoServe will also help the farmers to get credit. The non-government organisation that helps farmers find markets, received a donation of US$7.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US$3 million from Coca-Cola Company and US$1 million from Coca-Cola Sabco for the four-year project. Coca-Cola said the partnership seeks to enable smallholder mango and passion fruit farmers to participate in Coca-Cola’s supply chain for the first time. The local farmers fruits will be used for Coca-Cola’s locally produced and sold fruit juices.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Figo, February 07, 2010
-
- +0
-
-
written by Kalmoh, February 08, 2010
-
- +1
-
-
