Bralirwa, Rwanda’s largest beer and soft drinks manufacturer and distributor, has introduced new and repackaged plastic bottles for its Coca-Cola, Fanta Orange and Sprite brands.

The products are manufactured and bottled by Uganda’s Century Bottling Company under the authority of Coca-Cola Company. Bralirwa is licensed to distribute the products on the Rwandan market.

Alexander Koch, the company’s Commercial Director, said that the new brands will now be available in 50cl plastic bottles.

"With the new packaging, consumers will be able to enjoy refreshments ‘on the go’ in a convenient plastic bottle since they can carry the bottles with them unlike the glass bottles which must be returned to Bralirwa,” said Koch.

Although Bralirwa plans to roll out the distribution of the new packaged brands across the country, it has for the start, chosen to distribute them to major supermarkets in Kigali at the recommended price of Rwf600.

"To introduce the new packaging to our consumers, on October 31, 2010, during the ongoing primus national football league match between APR FC and Kiyovu at Amohoro stadium, each spectator as he passes ticket stand, will receive a free Coca-Cola in a plastic bottle,” explained Koch.

Koch said that they were expecting to distribute more than 25,000 bottles of coca-cola during Sunday’s  football match between local heavy weights APR FC and SC Kiyovu.

"The new packaged soda will be more expensive than the glass bottles because it is more in quantity. It is 50cl as opposed to 30cl glass bottles,” said Koch.

Bralirwa has plans to manufacture the products locally but will continue to import them from Uganda until the market fully appreciates the products.

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