The recent launch of the new Alpla bottling plant at Orange Grove Dairy has injected fresh life into Dundee’s struggling economy, long battered by a decline in mining and tourism.

Austrian-based Alpla – a global packaging leader with operations in 46 countries – took over the in-house bottling operations from Nampak in February, officially opening the site last week.

Dignitaries at the launch included Austrian Ambassador Romana Koenigsbrun, trade commissioner Martin Meischl, Umzinyathi Deputy Mayor Cllr N. Zungu, Orange Grove’s Dave and Sue Durham, and Alpla’s regional manager Javier Delgado.

Ambassador Koenigsbrun cut the ribbon after a tour of the rebuilt and expanded Orange Grove site, which had been destroyed by fire in 2019.

Video of Dave Durham of Orange Grove showing Austrian Ambassador, Romana Koenigsbrun, the bottling plant:

Alpla SA managing director Gareth Elcox said the company was excited to partner with Orange Grove. Dave Durham noted Orange Grove’s history of innovation, adding, “We’re 98 years old and now moving forward with Alpla.”

Deputy Mayor Zungu praised Orange Grove’s community role and welcomed the job opportunities. Delgado said Alpla’s Dundee site is their first in-house dairy plant and employs 30 people in a 24-hour operation, producing over 200,000 plastic bottles a day.

“This is a bold step into a brighter future,” he added.

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