Mars Wrigley opens US$33M sugar-free gum plant in Kenya
Mars Wrigley launches KES 4.2B Athi River factory to scale sugar-free gum production and expand exports across Africa and the Middle East.
KENYA – Mars Wrigley has launched a newly built KES 4.2 billion (US$33 million) confectionery manufacturing plant in Athi River, Machakos County, near Nairobi, underscoring its shift toward Kenya-driven production and regional exports.
The facility will expand local manufacturing of the company’s sugar-free Orbit and Extra chewing gum brands, which were previously produced for global markets exclusively at its Polish plant in Poland.
The company said the new site will improve cost efficiency and strengthen access to export corridors. From Nairobi, Mars Wrigley plans to supply 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East, up from six markets previously served.
The expansion features upgraded machinery, increased automation, and higher production throughput, alongside a 10% workforce increase that includes a planned 10% rise in staffing levels and a further 10% addition to staff dedicated to the upgraded line. The development also supports a 10% growth in personnel to match capacity demands.
“The Nairobi facility has given us a major cost advantage, allowing us to serve more markets,” said Ismael Bello, general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa operations. Bello highlighted that lower landed costs from reduced import taxes and shorter supply lines will support new small-unit retail stocking options.
The company said it will introduce single-unit packs retailing at KES 5 to increase affordability, while continuing to offer larger stick packs at KES 70.
The Athi River location already manufactures sugared gum brands, including P.K., Juicy Fruit, and Big G. Mars Wrigley confirmed that other confectionery products such as Snickers and Orbit had, until now, been fully imported.
Local manufacturing of Orbit and Extra will raise category competition with imported sugar-free gums in Kenya, including Trident, Xylitol, and Stimorol, according to industry participants.
The KES 4.2B investment adds to more than a decade of manufacturing spending in Kenya, bringing Mars Wrigley’s cumulative industrial expenditure in the country over the past 10 years to KES 13.4 billion (US$103 million).
The company noted that this builds on earlier capital commitments, including a KES 7 billion advanced production complex commissioned in 2019 in Athi River, which produces the Extra gum now being exported.
The Nairobi hub currently serves Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The company said the new line will enable an expanded manufacturing footprint for additional market supply without dependence on long-haul imports.
At the commissioning ceremony, Kenya Investment Authority Chief Executive John Mwendwa said: “We see this evolving into a continental and cross-regional supply hub.”
He also stated that Kenya’s trade advantages and logistical positioning can support wider export reach. Kenya Investment Authority also affirmed its expectation that Kenya-based manufacturing will serve as a foundation for deeper regional distribution, particularly for gum portfolios.
Mars Wrigley said the Athi River investment will increase plant capacity, broaden distribution lines, and support category scale through localized production for core sugar-free chewing gums.
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