This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
On August 5, 2019, the Softa Bottling Company, a Kenyan firm that had been a thorn in the side of global giant Coca-Cola, was struck off the register after two decades of operations.
The company, which had shown so much promise in its formative stages, had grown to an annual turnover of over Sh700 million before it stumbled and fell.
Founded by Peter Kuguru, the company had two manufacturing plants, one put up in 1997 and the other bought in 2003, with a capacity to produce a significant amount of soft drinks.
However, the company's demise was attributed to financial difficulties after it failed to secure a joint venture partner.
Mr. Kuguru, in an interview, stated that every business has its challenges and there are always lessons to be learnt.
He added, 'We have been in many businesses, some succeed and others fail. But we never give up.'
Although the company's assets have not been fully disposed of, what is left of the plant is now owned by Kuguru Foods.
Mr. Kuguru hopes that the plant will one day come back into operation when the government bans plastic bottles and replaces them with glass.
