This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
Published on August 4, 2020, Keroche Breweries, a leading liquor company in Kenya, has scaled down its operations to cope with the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Tabitha Karanja, the CEO of Keroche Breweries, the company has been forced to consider cost-cutting measures to survive the harsh economic times.
Speaking to the Nation via telephone, Mrs. Karanja explained that the firm had scaled down on major operations, retaining only staff offering critical services like maintenance.
"It is a global phenomenon, and just like many companies around the world, we have to adapt to measures that will enable us survive this critical period," said Mrs. Karanja.
Before the halting of beer sales in bars, the company had increased its online presence and embraced home deliveries to retain its customer base.
"Beer taking in an African setup is a social event, and drinking from home is not as popular," said Mrs. Karanja.
She also revealed that some employees are on unpaid leave, while others have had their stay-home period extended.
The CEO expressed her support for the President's order to halt the selling of liquor in bars and other social places, citing the need to curb the spread of the virus.
"The move is aimed at helping to curb the spread of the virus, and I totally support it," added Mrs. Karanja.
She emphasized that the company is closely monitoring the situation and adjusting accordingly.
"It is apparent we will be forced to change our business model to cope with the evolving business situation in order to stay afloat," revealed Mrs. Karanja.
Despite the challenges, the company remains optimistic about bouncing back after the current period of uncertainties.
