Pepsi products in Kenya are bottled and distributed by the Seven Up Bottling Company (SBC) Kenya, a company fully owned by the Kenya Bottling Company (KBC), which was in 2024 acquired by the Crown Beverages Mauritius Limited, a company affiliated with the Crown Beverages Limited (CBL) of Uganda.
CBL Uganda is owned by a consortium of three Ugandan investors and business titans Amos Nzeyi, Chris Kayoboke, and Dr Maggie Kigozi, who are the majority owners of the Ugandan entity, PepsiCo’s exclusive bottler in the country.
According to CBL’s official website, Pepsi products were first bottled in Uganda in 1951 by the state-owned Lake Victoria Bottling Company (LVBC). In 1993, the company was privatised and renamed Crown Bottlers, before a South African firm acquired a majority stake in 1997. Nzeyi, Kayoboke, and Kigozi then regained full ownership in 2001, forming Crown Beverages Ltd.
Crown Beverages enters the Kenyan market
In January 2024, the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) approved the unconditional acquisition of the entire share capital of the Kenya Bottling Company by Crown Beverages Mauritius Ltd.
The regulator noted that the purchase would not hurt competition in the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink market, citing Crown Beverages’ lack of prior presence in Kenya and the small market share held by Pepsi products—just 1.5%, compared to Coca-Cola’s 93.9% at the time.
CAK’s statement confirmed that the merger met the financial threshold for mandatory approval, adding that the transaction would not result in job losses, as the 27 KBC employees would be retained.
Further, the authority said that the relevant market was national, covering all non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages and that the post-merger market concentration would remain unchanged because the acquirer previously had no operations in Kenya.
The approval paved the way for Pepsi’s Kenyan bottler to be absorbed into the larger Crown Beverages ecosystem, linking it to the Ugandan company that has built one of the most successful Pepsi franchises in Africa.
Expansion into Kenya
Shortly after securing regulatory clearance, Crown Beverages appointed Paddy Muramiirah, the celebrated Ugandan CEO credited with transforming CBL into a high-performing enterprise, to spearhead its Kenyan expansion.
Muramiirah, known for nearly tripling turnover at CBL and delivering more than 200% profitability growth during his tenure, brought experience from a company that commands between 33% and 70% market share in Uganda, depending on different industry estimates.
Crown Beverages is now the powerhouse steering Pepsi’s Kenyan operations through SBC Kenya, whose portfolio includes Pepsi-Cola, Mirinda (Fruity, Orange, Pineapple, Green Apple, Lemon), Mountain Dew, 7UP, Sting energy drink, Evervess, and Aquafina Mineral water brands.
Who owns Crown Beverages Limited
Businessman Amos Nzeyi owns 51% of Crown Beverages and is one of Uganda’s most notable industrialists, with an estimated net worth of USD 57 million (Ksh6.5 billion). Born in 1947 in Kabale, he rose from a modest childhood and left formal schooling early due to financial constraints, yet went on to build one of the region’s most successful business empires.
After spending time in the United Kingdom, he returned to Uganda in 1986 and began laying the foundation for what would become Crown Beverages.
He first established Hot Loaf Bakery, which grew into Kampala’s leading bakery, before starting a bottle crown company that would later supply Pepsi operations.
In the early 1990s, Nzeyi partnered with Dan Kigozi and Chris Kayoboke to acquire the state-owned Lake Victoria Bottling Company (LVBC) during Uganda’s privatization programme.
The company was later renamed Crown Bottlers and eventually became Crown Beverages Ltd. By 2001, Nzeyi and his partners had regained full ownership by buying out a South African investor, restoring complete local control.
Nzeyi serves as Executive Chairman of Crown Beverages and remains a central figure in its growth. Beyond the beverage business, he owns Hot Loaf Bakery, Palm Valley Golf & Country Club, Pineapple Bay Resort, and a luxury yacht. He has previously served on boards such as the Uganda Manufacturers’ Association and the Uganda Development Bank.
Chris Kayoboke
Chris Kayoboke, who holds a 41% stake in Crown Beverages, is often described as a “silent billionaire” due to his extremely private lifestyle and limited public presence. Although his net worth is not officially documented, Ugandan business media consistently refer to him as a billionaire.
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A long-time business partner of Nzeyi, Kayoboke was a co-founder of Crown Beverages during the privatization of LVBC and remains a key shareholder in a company that generates more than UGX 514 billion annually and ranks among Uganda’s top taxpayers.
His substantial stake places him among the most influential but least visible corporate figures in East Africa’s beverage industry.
Dr. Maggie Kigozi
Dr. Maggie Kigozi is the third co-owner and a trailblazing business leader who joined Crown Beverages in 1994 following the death of her husband and company co-founder, Eng. Dan Kigozi. In stepping into the business, she inherited not only shares but also the mission to steer the company’s expansion.
A medical doctor by training, she has practised in Uganda, Kenya, and Zambia. She became Marketing Director of Crown Bottlers in 1994 and played a central role in strengthening the company’s brands and market presence.
Dr. Kigozi’s influence extends well beyond Crown Beverages. She served as Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority (1999–2011) and has held positions on the boards of the Commercial Bank of Africa, the Uganda Export Promotion Board, and several business organizations.
She founded the UIA Women Entrepreneurs Network and has served as President of Business and Professional Women Uganda.
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She continues to sit on the Board of Crown Beverages, contributing to its strategic leadership and regional growth.
Stanbic pumps Ksh5.8 billion into Pepsi bottlers in Kenya and Uganda
In October 2025, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Stanbic Bank Uganda arranged a Ksh5.8 billion ($45 million) long-term funding deal to support industrial expansion for Crown Beverages Uganda and SBC Kenya.
The Ugandan entity is set to receive Ksh3.9 billion ($30M) while the Kenyan will receive Ksh1.9 billion. The financing is expected to enhance manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply chains, and support thousands of jobs across both countries.
Stanbic executives described the deal as a milestone in cross-border financing, designed to bolster regional trade and local industries.
This investment signals a significant boost for Pepsi’s long-term ambitions in the Kenyan market, particularly as SBC Kenya scales up production under new ownership.
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