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Hariss International Limited, the makers of Riham products, is currently undergoing a significant leadership transition on the back of investing in a new manufacturing plant to keep up with the demand for its expanded product line. With a product portfolio of more than 50 refreshing drinks, snacks, and sweets available across East Africa, Hariss has evolved from being the bakers of Uganda’s favourite biscuits to becoming a major player in the regional food and drink sector. A new team at the helm of the manufacturing powerhouse can only mean the company has chartered a course for the next chapter of its growth.
New Leadership
In a recent announcement, Hariss International introduced the appointment of a new executive team. The team, led by Simon Harvey, brings with them extensive experience in the beverages industry and multinational Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies. This formidable team will be a key asset in Hariss’ continued growth and success.
Simon Harvey was appointed the new Managing Director effective 1st March 2023. He has more than 25 years of experience in the FMCG sector, having led the strategy and operations of global beverage manufacturers such as Diageo and SABMiller across multiple African countries.
Patrick Mugenyi who was appointed the new Deputy Managing Director effective 1st March 2023, has more than two decades of leadership experience in businesses such as Lafarge, Coca-Cola Sabco, and New Forests company.
Elsabe Van Biljon who has taken up the role of Plant Manager, effective 2nd March 2023 wields more than 20 years of experience managing and maintaining some of the biggest production and packaging lines in the industry such as SABMiller, PG Group and The Beverage Company.
The new team’s wealth of knowledge, and successful track records in leading the growth and performance of companies in several countries across Africa and Asia are sure to come in handy as they steer Hariss into a new era of growing its market share. Hariss International’s new home along Kawempe-Ttula Road is expected to facilitate this.
A New Home
Hariss International made a significant move in June 2021, as they began the process of relocating to their new, larger manufacturing plant in Mpererwe, Ttula. The new plant boasts a state-of-the-art production facility spread over approximately 25 acres, enabling Hariss to produce a large range of products while maintaining its high quality standards.
This move is a clear indication of Hariss International’s commitment to investing in the future of the company and taking a significant step forward in its growth and evolution. It also means that the markets they serve, and their product offering, have outgrown their historical Bombo Road home.
Innovation in Product Portfolio Expansion
The Riham brand name was first launched in Uganda in 1995. Its flagship product was the ready-to-eat biscuits, Riham Red, a crunchy glucose biscuit that has stood the test of time and is still ranked among the best biscuits on the market. These biscuits made Riham a household name as they were enjoyed by the young and old alike, and they continue to be to date.
After a decade as Uganda’s favourite biscuits baker, Hariss International Limited officially incorporated in Uganda and expanded into beverages. Hariss International’s entry into the beverage industry has since changed the market forever. Its first beverage product, Riham Natural Mineral Water, was introduced to cater for the growing demand of Ugandans that were searching for healthy, readily available, and affordable drinking water. Krystal Water, a premium brand of Natural Mineral Water with its signature crystal-edged bottle would be added to Hariss’ drinking water portfolio in 2021.
The company launched its first range of Carbonated Soft Drinks in 2013, immediately capturing the attention of the entire nation thanks to the company’s distribution networks that made them available countrywide. Today this range includes such market leaders as the SkyView family of fruit-flavoured sodas Orange, Citrus and Fruitti; malt-based soft-drinks Lavita Pineapple and Coffee Malt; plus, sodas made with indigenous natural flavours, Exotic Tamarind and Exotic Tangawizi.
RockBoom, the first Ugandan-made and most popular energy drink today was introduced the following year. Oner Fruit Juice in both Mango and Apple flavours was launched three years later. Oner has since won its own space in the juice market, and with the addition of the Grapes and Berries flavour, it is now enjoyed by hundreds of consumers every day.
2021 saw Hariss venture into confectionery with a catalogue of delicious sweets and candies which today include Bon Boni fruit-flavoured hard candies, Max Boom and Jogurt lollipops, Buttermilk caramel hard candies, ChocoMint mints with a chocolatey centre, and Rapid Chewing Gum in Spearmint, Strawberry and Tropical Fruit flavours. Last year, the company launched its first line of cakes under the brand name Cake Bar. These are individually wrapped chocolate-covered sponge cakes that come with either chocolate or strawberry filling.
This expansion of its product portfolio is a result of Hariss continuously innovating to meet the varied and ever-changing needs of its wide consumer base. As Hariss International continues to evolve and grow, it is sure to remain one of the leading players in the food and beverages industry, both in Uganda and beyond.