P&G invests R300-million in its Kempton Park manufacturing plant

Procter & Gamble (P&G) has invested R300-million in its new manufacturing facility in Spartan, Kempton Park, Kempton Express reports.

This investment introduces the local production of a new category for P&G, through its Always brand of sanitary pads.

This sizeable investment brings P&G’s world-class manufacturing capability and technology to South Africa and has increased employment at the facility on Newton Road by 30 per cent.

The investment in the Kempton Park site also includes upgrades to P&G’s Pampers production facilities. The facility is a zero waste to landfill site and the latest energy saving initiatives mean that even with the additional manufacturing demand of a new product line, energy consumption has not increased.

P&G’s presence in South Africa creates over 4 000 direct and indirect jobs throughout its value chain.

Vilo Trska, P&G vice-president Southern Africa says: “The commissioning of the new manufacturing facility represents P&G’s dedication to the development of, and investment in, South Africa and Africa as a whole, responding to the growing needs of our consumers.

“This supports government’s national development plan objectives relating to job creation and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s quest to promote investment into South Africa.

“From material selection to product development, and ultimately manufacturing, we follow rigorous, internationally recognised standards for safety and quality in our processes to earn the trust of the millions of South Africans who choose the Always brand. Local manufacturing increases our flexibility, improves speed of distribution, empowers more choice and enables responsiveness to evolving local market trends,” adds Trska.

Attending the official commissioning of the new manufacturing facility on November 1, deputy minister of Department of Trade and Industry, Nomalungelo Gina, acknowledged the importance of multinational companies like P&G investing in South Africa and contributing to real GDP growth of the economy.

“Investments such as this are proof of the success of the President’s economic blueprint to attract investment into South Africa, while creating jobs and developing human capital.’’

Trska also highlighted P&G’s commitment to gender equality.

“We are committed to addressing the needs of women and girls in South Africa and Africa through our products, operations and social programmes. Forty per cent of our managers at this plant are female. Over the next five years, we will deliver puberty education to over 1.5 million girls in South Africa, and our Always Keeping Girls in School programme complements this with the provision of free Always sanitary pads to another 13 000 girls every year.”