Pepsico to employ 250 at Ruiru plant

By NJIRAINI MUCHIRA

Giant global food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo will be recruiting 250 Kenyans for its local operation following the completion of a Sh2.5 billion bottling plant in Ruaraka.

After completing the first two phases of its recruitment process that saw the hiring of some 50 senior and middle level managers, the company, represented locally by Seven-Up Bottling Company Kenya, is now gearing to employ other staff to enable it battle for a bigger share of the soft drinks market.

The new plant will manufacture and distribute the PepsiCo range and is expected to significantly lower the cost of operations and possibly consumer prices.

Until now, PepsiCo has been importing its Pepsi Cola, Mirinda, Evervess, 7UP and Mountain Dew brands in plastic bottles.

In July, the company put out adverts for middle level managers, including area sales managers, human resource manager, public relations officers, senior accountants, special events supervisor, IT system assistant, executive administration assistant among others.

With the recruitment process for the middle level managers now complete, the company is seeking to hire  a general workforce to operate the plant, undertake packaging of its products, sales reps, drivers among others.