At least 30 workers at Samoa Breweries Limited will head into the New Year with the prospect of losing jobs as the parent company Pacific Beverages looks to stop production of Coca Cola products in Samoa.
Samoa Observer reports Paradise Beverages (PBF) has renewed its focus in Samoa on producing high quality local beer.
A market announcement issued by the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE), said that from early next year, Coca-Cola trademark beverages produced by PBF’s Samoan subsidiary would be imported into Samoa from Fiji and New Zealand.
“Samoa Breweries will continue to distribute The Coca-Cola Company’s trademark beverages range but will be able to offer consumers a larger range of beverages, including a significantly expanded range of no sugar and low sugar beverages previously unavailable in Samoa,” the company stated.
Samoa Breweries General Manager Brent Adams said they were pleased to direct the focus of the Samoa team on brewing and packaging the Vailima Beer Brands.
He said realignment of the strategic operations of Samoa Breweries of this nature would unfortunately impact up to 30 positions within the organization.
He added the management was working closely with those impacted employees to ensure they were supported with extended notice periods, counselling services, and outplacement support “as we work towards finalising redundancy arrangements”.
“We remain committed to the sustainability of our packaging.”
He said the company is currently investigating the most effective ways to significantly drive collection and recycling rates of all aluminium cans and plastic bottles within Samoa.
