SAB Continues to Pump Money into its Alrode Branch
Category Industrial Property News
In mid-2017 SAB put R1.3bn into the expansion of its Alrode brewery, which was completed in August last year. The Alrode expansion was in conjunction with the improvement of SAB’s Rosslyn branch, where SAB invested a further R1.5bn- bringing the total investment to R2.8bn. The combined size of the new developments came in at approximately 4500sqm.
The expansion, which is now operating in full swing, includes a new packaging line for glass bottles at both the Alrode and Rosslyn locations. The new packaging lines now have the ability to bottle 45,000 glass bottles- both 660ml and 750ml sizes- per hour. The equipment for the new lines was made in Germany. The equipment was ordered in December 2016 and it took over 6 months to construct. An additional purchase of four-million crates and 48-million bottles was made by SAB to help kick-start the new production line. The glass bottles were locally produced and are returnable, putting an emphasis on recycling and sustainability.
The Alrode branch also was also granted a new malting facility, which has improved SAB’s malting capacity by an extra 40,000 tonnes per year. This means that the vast majority of SAB’s malt is now produced on home soil.
Between the Rosslyn and Alrode branches, a total of 70 new full-time jobs were created to benefit people in the community. Richard Tadeu, AB-InBev Africa president, was very positive about the investment, saying, “We strive to create a growing world where everyone has the opportunity to improve their livelihood.”- http://www.engineeringnews.co.za, SAB has the goal to create 10,000 jobs in South Africa by 2022.
The investment made by SAB has been described as one of the most significant private sector investments of 2017. Jabu Mabuza, SAB and AB-InBev chairperson, was rightfully optimistic regarding the venture. “Fixed investment, which leads to confidence, is one of the key components needed to drive economic growth in a country. In turn, this helps to create jobs and encourages foreign investment, which is not going to happen if domestic investment does not take place,” -Jabu Mabuza- https://www.algoafm.co.za.
On top of investing millions into their Alrode branch, SAB also decided to feature three of their Alrode employees in a massive ad campaign, entitled ‘She Loves Beer”, that aired late last year. The campaign highlighted three SAB, female employees and let them have their say on the male-dominated beer industry. While the ad did experience some backlash from SAAPA, who condemned the brewery for targeting women of a child-bearing age, SAB retorted back by saying that they were not targeting women but simply celebrating their female employees. The campaign did a good job in breaking gender stereotypes, as well as putting a spotlight on SAB’s Alrode branch and its employees.
SAB is just one of the many prominent companies that call the area of Alrode home. Alrode is a key, industrial zone in the small city of Alberton. The suburb has ample industrial parks, warehouses, distribution zones as well as enough empty land to leave plenty of possibilities for new developments. Other high-profile businesses that are located in Alrode include Amitech, Imperial Cargo, CHEP and the Atlas Group.
With major brands such as SAB demonstrating their faith in the Alrode area by continuing to add improvements and expansions to their Alrode location and even featuring Alrode employees in TV commercials, shows how Alrode is a respected industrial zone that is held in high esteem. API Property Group currently has close to 100 exciting, industrial properties listed in Alrode to let and for sale. If you are interested in relocating your business premises to the flourishing area of Alrode, contact an API Property Group broker today.
Author: API Property Group
