AfDIS to save US$6m a year
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Listed spirit and wine maker, African Distillers (AfDIS), says it will save about US$6m per year following the commissioning of a cider fermentation plant three months ago.
“In a month, we have saved to the tune of US$500 000 that would have gone into the importation of the ciders, hence in a year it can reach US$6m. It’s a very significant amount,” managing director Muchenje told Business Times.
He said the plant was operating at full capacity utilisation.
“We are at 100% capacity utilisation. We are no longer importing finished products but we are doing the process here. We are fermenting locally, all our ciders give us capacity to develop into new cider products as well,” Muchenje said.
“We are fermenting close to a million litres of ciders in a month,” Muchenje said.
The US$1m plant was established mainly for hunters dry and hunters gold but other ciders are also being processed in that plant to cut costs.
In a trading update for the quarter to June 30, 2022, revenue for AfDIS grew 57% compared to the same period last year.
The company secretary, Lydiah Mutamuko, attributed the growth to improved demand.
The company reported an 18% revenue growth in the period under review.
Wine volumes grew by 30% while volumes for the spirits and ready to drink grew 23 and 12% respectively.
AfDIS, which has been selling imported wines and spirits, is now manufacturing the bulk of the products it markets and currently operates six depots located in Bulawayo, Harare, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Mutare and Victoria Falls.
