Mars Wrigley has announced a Ksh. 4.2 billion ($33 million) fresh investment over the next three years to expand its sugar-free gum operations at its Athi River plant.
The fresh capital injection builds on more than Ksh.9 billion ($70 million) already invested in the country and follows the formal commissioning of a dedicated sugar-free gum production line in November 2025.
The investment is part of the firm’s growth portfolio to expand in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
“By growing exports from our Athi River site, we’re demonstrating what Kenyan manufacturing can achieve at global standards. This expansion reflects rising demand for sugar-free gum and our commitment to serving customers across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East with high-quality products made in Kenya,” said Mars Wrigley Kenya Plant Director Mustaffa Bin Kamaludin.
The Athi River facility is the company’s only sugar-free gum manufacturing plant in Africa and is regarded as the first on the continent with dedicated large-scale production capacity for sugar-free gum.
That status positions Kenya as a strategic export base serving fast-growing markets.
Currently, products from the plant are finding their way to Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
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With planned expansion into additional markets this year, exports are projected to account for 61 per cent of the plant’s total value, while sugar-free gum exports already represent 90 per cent of Athi River’s output.
Some of the regional markets that have been touted as potential include Libya, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.
Others are Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi and Nigeria.
The facility currently supports more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, with further investments planned in equipment upgrades, new production lines, packaging capabilities, warehouse expansion, automation, quality systems and sustainability initiatives.
