Awash Winery Launches $2 million Expansion Project
Unveils new products
The pioneer wine maker in Ethiopia, Awash Wine SC, has completed an expansion project it undertook at its wine plant in Addis Ababa at a cost of two million dollars.
Constructed at the Mekanissa winery plant the new production line includes bottle washers, fillers and cockers as well as capsule sealer and dryer. In a statement, the company said the new production line is highly efficient and reduces waste in the wine making process and is operated by a local experienced and skilled labor force.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, Neil Comerford, commercial director, said that the state-of-the-art machines were bought from Italy, Germany and China adding that the new production line would enable the winery’s production capacity by three-fold. Comerford said Awash Wine has been investing in its factory and brands. He stated that the company is also investing the community in the provision of healthcare, food and clean drinking water sectors.
Established in 1956, Awash Wine owns two winery plants in Mekanissa and Lideta area and a vineyard covering 517 hectares of land in the Oromia Regional State, Arsi zone, Merti wereda, located 180km east of Addis Ababa.
Eyob Assamenew, Mekanessa plant manager, said that the state-of-the-art machineries imported from Italy, Germany and China and installed by a Chinese firm enabled the plant to triple its production capacity. According to Eyob, the Mekanissa plant can now bottle 9,000 bottles with 750 ML and 11,000 bottles with 330 ML per hour.
Read more at: The Reporter
