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Orbit maker starts production of sugar free chewing gums
Mars Wrigley Plant Director for the Nairobi Factory Mustaffa Bin Kamaludin (left) with US Embassy in Nairobi Charge d’Affaires Ms Susan Burns during the launch of the new sugar-free gum production line at the Mars Wrigley production plant in Athi River, Machakos County on November 25, 2025.
Confectionary firm Mars Wrigley has started local production of sugar-free Orbit and Extra chewing gum brands after building a Sh4.2 billion ($33 million) plant in Athi River.
The US company plans to supply at least 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East from its Nairobi plant, taking advantage of Kenya’s economic bloc memberships and trade agreements to cut costs and expand market access.
The investment brings in new machinery, greater automation and about a 10 percent increase in staff as the firm seeks to raise the number of countries it serves from six to 15.
“The new facility in Nairobi has made it very cost competitive for us, and because of that it means we can serve more markets,” said Ismael Bello, Mars Wrigley’s general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Nairobi plant currently produces sugared chewing gum brands such as P.K, Juicy Fruit and Big G. Other products, including Orbit and Snickers, have been imported until now.
Mr Bello told Business Daily that savings on import taxes will allow the company to offer smaller unit packs retailing at Sh5 alongside the existing Sh70 pieces. “This new production line is going to help us drive greater affordability of the products. With that, we are going to offer to a lot more consumers in Kenya because now we can produce and sell smaller units,” he said.
Mars Wrigley has been manufacturing its sugar-free gums for all global markets at its plant in Poland. Moving production to Nairobi lowers shipment and tax costs for the Kenyan market and supports expansion into Libya, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Rwanda and Nigeria, potentially boosting Kenya’s export earnings.
The Nairobi facility currently serves Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Local production of Orbit and Extra will also intensify rivalry with other popular sugar-free gums in Kenya, including Trident, Xylitol and Stimorol, which continue to be imported.
The additional investment brings Mars Wrigley’s total manufacturing spend in Kenya over the past decade to $103 million (Sh13.4 billion), supporting the country’s manufacturing capacity.
“We hope that in the near future, this can become your hub, not only for East Africa, but for the entire continent and beyond, because from Kenya you can serve the world,” said Kenya Investment Authority chief executive John Mwendwa during the launching Machakos yesterday.
