Eveready to produce AA batteries in Kenya

Plans are at an advanced stage to have the AA battery line manufactured in Kenya.

Producing them locally would help reduce the costs by between 10 and 15 per cent with the consumer emerging winner.

Eveready East Africa said the AA batteries currently in the Kenyan market are made in Egypt

Managing director Steven Smith, at the same time, said that rising costs of doing business in Kenya and the high price of zinc have contributed to a decline in its earnings.

An increase in the price of Zinc in the world market by 350 per cent since 2004, taxation and high energy costs are also on the list of the woes facing the company.

“We have to recognise that the consumers for whose attention we are battling have very limited funds. We have to add greater value to our products that will add value for money and increase their savings in the long run,” said Mr Smith.

He said on Wednesday that they would continue to innovate and reinvent by introducing new products that added value to the consumer to make the company more viable.

He spoke during the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement between workers and Eveready East Africa giving staff a 7 per cent annual pay rise for the three year duration of the deal.