Africa-Press – Tanzania. Tanzanian tycoon Said Bakhresa is investing $500 million to expand his flagship drinks factory, a move that signals renewed confidence in the region’s growing demand for processed food and beverages.
Through Bakhresa Food Products Limited (BFPL), the businessman is significantly upgrading the Mwandege-based facility in Mkuranga District, Pwani Region.
The expansion will double the factory’s daily production capacity from 150,000 to 300,000 cartons, reinforcing Bakhresa Group’s leadership in the regional consumer goods market.
Occupying 17 hectares, the expanded facility forms part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
Alongside the infrastructure upgrade, BFPL has introduced a new juice brand for children—Tamtam—available in pineapple, orange, and mixed fruit flavours, reflecting a shift towards more targeted and health-conscious product lines.
BFPL’s senior official, Hussein Sufian, underscored the company’s commitment to supporting local agriculture. “We have a clear policy of using local raw materials,” he said. “We work with nearly 100,000 farmers through cooperatives and guide them on growing the right varieties while maintaining high quality standards.”
Charles Haiyola, the company’s Quality Officer, highlighted the gains from the latest technological upgrades: “We previously produced between 150,000 and 200,000 cartons a day. With the new machinery, we’re now achieving between 250,000 and 300,000.”
Packaging and Transport Head, Simon Alando, noted the company’s growing export footprint. “We’re already exporting to countries across East and Central Africa, and we’ve recently entered markets in Yemen and Oman. Our reach is steadily expanding,” he said.
Said Bakhresa, ranked among Tanzania’s wealthiest individuals alongside Mohammed Dewji and Rostam Aziz, has built a formidable empire across sectors including food and beverages, logistics, agro-processing, media, hospitality, and marine services. His net worth was estimated at over $600 million in 2015.
The soft drinks expansion follows a series of major investments by Bakhresa Group. In June 2022, the group commissioned a $300 million sugar plant under Bagamoyo Sugar Limited, targeting an increase in annual production from 30,000 to 100,000 tonnes.
More recently, in December 2024, BFPL announced a Sh20 billion ($8.4 million) investment at the Mwandege facility to double annual fruit juice output from 45,000 to 100,000 tonnes, positioning the firm to meet surging demand both locally and internationally.
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