Mombasa, Kenya — Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji is set to shake up the East African beverage landscape with a $50 million investment in a new soft drinks manufacturing plant in Mombasa.
The venture, under Dewji’s conglomerate MeTL Group, aims to produce Mo Cola, Mo Xtra, and Mo Malto, targeting a market long held by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Scheduled to commence operations by May 2026, the facility marks MeTL Group’s first significant manufacturing venture in Kenya. Dewji, known for his diverse business interests, has turned MeTL into East Africa’s largest indigenous conglomerate, encompassing manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and consumer products.
His net worth, as estimated by Forbes, is approximately $2. 1 billion. Mo Cola, priced at about 15 Kenyan shillings for a 300-millilitre bottle, is poised to offer a more affordable alternative to the region’s consumers, traditionally underserved by the major beverage companies.
This strategic move comes as MeTL Group accelerates its expansion across East and Southern Africa, with plans for a manufacturing facility in Uganda and wider distribution networks in Rwanda, Zambia, and Mozambique.
The Mombasa investment, which is already in the planning stage, is expected to intensify competition in the soft drinks market. It also reflects the growing interest in Mombasa among African industrialists and billionaires, such as Nigerian Aliko Dangote, who has identified the city as a potential site for an East African oil refinery project.
As Dewji’s plant prepares to begin operations, the East African beverage market is poised for a new chapter, with the potential for significant changes in consumer preferences and market dynamics.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africa.businessinsider
Source: Olamilekan Okebiorun
