Kenya Wine Agencies Limited

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Kenya Wine Agencies Limited
Company typePrivate company
Industry
Managing Director)[1]
ProductsWine, Spirits & Juices
Number of employees
229 (2021)
Websitewww.kwal.co.ke

Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL), is a first line manufacturer, importer and distributor of wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages

History

The company was founded in 1969 by the

parastatal, owned through the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC)[2]
now Kenya Development Corporation (KDC).

In 2012, KWAL and the

Distell Group Limited fought each other's in a legal feud when Distell started to bypass KWAL to distribute its beverages in Kenya. KWAL was the sole distributor of 80% of Distell beverages in Kenya. At this point, the Kenyan government had already considered selling a fair share of KWAL to Distell, but the process had been delayed.[3]

In 2014, the process of divestiture by the government was kick-started when 26% shareholding was sold to the

Distell Group Limited owns a majority share in KWAL, having acquired an additional 26% stake from the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC)[6]
now Kenya Development Corporation (KDC).

In October 2018, Lina Githuka was appointed new managing director of the company, succeeding to Carlos Gomes.[7] In 2019, KWAL started its own production of Hunters-branded cider.[8] In February 2021, KWAL launched the construction of its new manufacturing facility in Tatu City, its first in 20 years.[9]

Description

Activities

KWAL is a wine manufacturer, distiller, importer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in Nairobi, with a distribution network throughout Kenya's urban centres. The company has an established countrywide branch network and is repositioning itself to grow the market in line with its renewed vision of being the preferred provider of Quality beverages in Eastern Africa and beyond.[6]

KWAL pioneered the wine industry in Kenya having established the first commercial winery in Kenya in 1982.

Ownership

The company is owned by KWAL Holdings E.A. Limited (KHEAL). KHEAL the parent Company of the KWAL group of companies has shareholding as follows as of June 2022:

Kenya Wine Agencies Limited Stock Ownership
Rank Name of Owner Percentage Ownership
1
Distell Group Limited
 55.44
2 KDC 43.77
3 Other 0.79
Total 100.00

In May 2021, the Heineken group offered to acquire the Distell group, which would make the Dutch group the majority shareholder of KWAL.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kenya Wine Agencies Limited :The Board of Directors". Kenya Wine Agencies Limited. 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. ^ Gachie, Josphat (2013). "Kenya Wine Agencies Limited – KWAL". Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. ^ Distell to market products despite legal tussle with Kwal, Businessdailyafrica.com, 12 September 2012
  4. AllAfrica.com
    . Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  5. ^ Herbling, David (12 February 2015). "Kwal Staff Begin Buying Winery Shares at Sh34". Business Daily Africa (Nairobi). Nation Media Group. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Our Story".
  7. ^ John Mutua, KWAL names new boss as it eyes larger market share, Businessdailyafrica.com, 22 octobre 2018
  8. ^ Brian Ngugi, Kwal starts local production of cider brands, Businessdailyafrica.com, 8 May 2019
  9. ^ Grace Matheka, KWAL kicks off construction of its manufacturing facility at Tatu City, Hapakenya.com, 15 February 2021
  10. ^ Victor Juma, Heineken eyes South African firm with 55pc stake in Kwal, Businessdailyafrica.com, 20 May 2021

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenya_Wine_Agencies_Limited&oldid=1155982698"