NEW 'NATIONS'S SPIRIT' BORN AT OLOIRIEN

Banana Investments Limited, a famous winery based at Oloirien in Arusha, will soon start a new production line for 'Rafiki' spirit. Samples of the new alcoholic drink have already been approved by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), the firm's managing director Adolph Olomi has said. "We have opened a new production line for the purpose", he told this newspaper, adding that once commercial production commences the brand will roll out in 50ml,100ml and 200ml packages. The company was recently awarded a certificate of compliance by TBS, he said, describing the alcoholic spirits market in the country as "highly competitive". Banana Investments Limited, a wine making firm which started in 1993, has since 2012 been producing 'Fiesta' spirit, at an average of 500 litres per day. Mr. Olomi said the new production line for spirits was one of strategies used by the company to diversify its products, until now dominated by three brands of banana wine; Raha, Raha Poa and Raha Gold. At one time, production of the alcoholic beverage, now popular among a section of consumers, stood at 1.9 million litres a day. The firm is credited to have experienced remarkable growth to produce several alcoholic beverages in its product line. The banana wine made at Mr. Olomi's plant is already popular not only in Arusha but also in neighbouring Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Singida regions but as far as Morogoro, Dar es Salaam and Tanga. The plant, which started as a backyard business for the former insurance expert, is now one of the leading employer in Arusha, good news for the economy. At one time, Banana Investments employed a total of 340 permanent workers.

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