Alan Henderson and Rod Robinson
Snack manufacturer Simba this week unveiled a new manufacturing plant, in Prospecton, KwaZulu-Natal, which it established to boost capacity to meet increasing demand for its products.
With two other factories, one each in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the PepsiCo subsidiary was strategically positioned to ensure a strong regional presence and meet rising demand for its Lays and Simba potato chip products.
The new facility, the construction of which was completed in 484 000 project manhours, makes use of advanced technology to ensure optimal performance levels and efficient and environmentally stable operations.
“This includes processes to increase the efficiency of the machinery while reducing electricity consumption and ensuring increased water reuse, [which] limits the drain on critical natural resources,” explained Simba manufacturing director Andrew Havinga in a statement on Tuesday.
The plant also adopted a strict recycling programme that aimed to achieve about 90% recyclable waste in the first year, which would significantly reduce what would be dispatched to local landfill sites.
Further, about 60% of the new facility’s 90-strong team comprised graduates from the Durban University of Technology and local further education and training colleges.
“This is priority for the company, as it allows us to play a role in imparting technical skills transfer opportunities to young South Africans and create additional local employment opportunities for new graduates,” Havinga stressed.