Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

William Mahfood, chief executive of the Wisynco beverage company.

Beverage company Wisynco Group Limited is to make a $600 million investment in a bottling plant to be constructed near Lakes Pen, St. Catherine, the Financial Gleaner understands.

Sources said Wisynco is primarily to bottle the Coca Cola range of products in Jamaica, having taken over the distribution contract formerly held by Facey Commodity Limited.

Wisynco's CEO William Mahfood is refusing to comment on the plant saying he is yet to hurdle regulatory approvals.

"We have a couple more things to finalise," he said several weeks ago when the Financial Gleaner first approached him on the plans. "We are in the process of getting some permits."

Mahfood avoided a follow up call Wednesday. But it is understood that he will be bottling other beverages, including GlaxoSmith-Kline' energy drink Lucozade.

Distributes foreign brands

The Wisynco Group manufactures 12 regular and five diet flavours under the Bigga soft drink brand, produces the Wata brand of bottled water, and distributes foreign brands including Welches, Ocean Spray, the General Mills line, Canagra, and Georgia Pacific products.

Informed sources also say that Ocean Spray's Cranberry juice, which is highly popular in the Jamaican market, is to be bottled at Lake's Pen once Mahfood gets his plant up and running.

Over a year ago, the Wisynco boss had announced he would be expanding the distribution side of the business, referring then to the construction of a new complex that would house an additional 200,000 square feet of warehouse and distribution or factory space on a 50-acre property acquired by the company.

It is still not clear whether the announced expansion incorporated this new bottling plant. The Financial Gleaner was unable to tie down the specifics of the plant's production capacity, although a source suggested the company was setting up to take on regional bottling contracts.

The Coca-Cola range of products includes Coca-Cola, Coca Cola Light, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Fanta and Schweppes carbonated beverages, as well as Minute Maid Fruit Coolers, Minute Maid Juices, Dasani Water and Powerade.

susan.smith@gleanerjm.com