PepsiCo is investing USD40m in Senselet, an Ethiopian company that makes the SUN Chips potato chips brand. The investment will be used to build a new snack production line and an additional potato chips production line inside the company’s current facilities.

“[The] investment is further proof of the confidence that PepsiCo has in the potential of the country for economic growth. This cash injection will allow us to increase our production capacity for snacks tenfold. This also allows us to further leverage PepsiCo’s expertise to help accelerate the growth of Senselet in Ethiopia by boosting its potato sourcing programs, as well as its manufacturing and go-to-market capabilities,” Chris Wijnterp, general manager of PepsiCo’s Foods unit in Ethiopia declared, cited by FMCG News Ethiopia.

According to the corporation, the PepsiCo Positive Agriculture program includes Senselet, which seeks to localize potato production, boost farmer income, and create a more reliable potato value chain. Over 500 additional jobs are anticipated to be added across the brand’s supply chain as a result of the investment.

“The new investment will create over 500 additional jobs, while also a strong CSR roadmap is defined to further strengthen our role and contribution in local communities. As an example, we have been donating potatoes to IDPs in the Amhara region, while under our PepsiCo Foundation umbrella we have donated meals to the elderly during the pandemic”, Wijnterp added.

Senselet was established in 2015, and in 2017 its potato processing facility in Ethiopia opened and began running. The following flavors of SUN Chips are available, according to the manufacturer: original salt, habesha (regional spices), tomato, and paprika. In Ethiopia, they are sold in roughly 10,000 shops.