EABL invests US$45.7M in youth, women, PWD-led businesses in FY 2024 

KENYA – East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has revealed that it spent KES5.9 billion (US$45.7M) supporting businesses led by youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWDs) in the fiscal year (FY) 2024.  

This investment, representing 7.9 percent of the company’s total supplier base, surpassed its initial target of 6 percent, highlighting EABL’s commitment to promoting economic inclusivity within its supply chain. 

EABL Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jane Karuku emphasized the brewer’s dedication to gender equality and inclusive growth.  

“In 2024, we made significant strides in our commitment to gender equality by increasing the number of women in leadership roles across the business,” Karuku noted.  

She further highlighted that women now constitute 45 percent of EABL’s leadership team, reflecting the company’s goal of fostering equal opportunities. 

Karuku spoke during the unveiling of EABL’s 2024 sustainability report, which also outlined its efforts in renewable energy, water conservation, and community empowerment. 

 The report revealed that EABL trained 9,951 individuals in business and hospitality skills, exceeding its annual target by 68 percent.  

Through its Learning for Life Initiative, 4,570 women received training in budgeting, time management, negotiation, and mixology, allowing them to secure employment or start their own businesses.  

This exceeded the initial target of 2,500 women, showcasing the company’s impactful contributions to skills development. 

In line with its sustainability goals, EABL also made notable progress in water conservation, reducing its water usage to 2.93 liters per liter of packaged product, beating its target of 3.07 liters per liter.  

Additionally, the company replenished 403,908 cubic meters of water, up from 361,217 cubic meters last year. 

EABL has further prioritized its environmental responsibilities, reducing its carbon emissions from 28.29 kilotons last year to 21.4 kilotons in 2024, thanks to its biomass plants in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Kampala.  

The brewer now sources 75.49 percent of its total energy from renewable resources, underscoring its dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint. 

Despite increasing operational costs that led to a 12 percent drop in net profits, from KES12.3 billion (US$95.3M) to KES10.8 billion (US$83M) in FY 2024, EABL continued to expand its workforce.  

The company added 203 permanent employees during the period, alongside maintaining a substantial number of contractors. 

In terms of financial performance, EABL saw its turnover increase, with revenue from customer contracts rising to KES124.1 billion (US$961.8M), up from KES109.6 billion (US$849.4M) the previous year.  

This growth was primarily driven by strong performance in Kenya, which accounts for three-quarters of its business. The market’s focus on premium and value products helped offset reduced discretionary spending in other regions. 

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