Dubai's Alokozay, PepsiCo sign Afghan deal

PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, has signed an exclusive bottling appointment with Dubai’s Alokozay Group of Companies to manufacture and distribute a broad range of PepsiCo beverages in Afghanistan.

The beverages will be produced at ABCO (Alokozay Beverages Company), Alokozay beverage bottling plant, which will be set up in Kabul with an initial investment of $60m, the companies said in a media statement.

The Jebel Ali Free Zone-headquartered Alokozay Group, a consumer goods distribution and marketing company, already has a strong presence in Afghanistan in the FMCG category. As part of the arrangement, the plant will not only manufacture and distribute well-known PepsiCo brands such as Pepsi Cola, Diet Pepsi, 7-UP, Mirinda and Mountain Dew, but will also enter the significant categories of energy drinks and bottled water by introducing PepsiCo brands such as Sting and Aquafina.

The new plant, expected to commence operations in March 2012, will create direct and indirect employment for 3,000 people, including 800 direct jobs.

“The beverage industry in Afghanistan has grown tremendously and industry estimates point to more than 30 per cent growth year on year. We are delighted to take the PepsiCo franchise into Kabul as this will enable us to service the growing requirement for beverages in the country, with one of the most internationally renowned brands,” said Jalil Alokozay, CEO, ABCo.

“We look forward to a long-term, successful and mutually beneficial partnership between PepsiCo and the Alokozay Group of Companies, which are known across the world for their uncompromising blend of quality and value,” added Saad Abdul-Latif, Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa.