A hotel in Nairobi. Pwani Oil is expanding products catering for the hospitality industry. file PHOTO | NMG
Consumer goods manufacturer Pwani Oil has expanded its range of
goods catering for the hospitality industry with the production of
small-sized, round-shaped hotel soaps.
The manufacturing of the soaps has started at Pwani Oil’s Kikambala factory in Mombasa.
High-end
hotels, resorts, lodgings and motels have been relying heavily on
imports of such small-sized soaps weighing between 20g to 40mg, which
cater for single use by guests.
Local production means hoteliers can now source the round soaps faster and at much cheaper prices compared to imports.
“Previously such basic commodities were exclusively imported,” the firm said.
“Now
any hotel can place orders for bespoke soaps ranging in the
organisations’ sizes, preferred colour, scent and even embossment of
hotel’s logo on the wrapper of the soap.”
Pwani Oil are
the makers of household brands including Freshfri, Salit, Fry Mate and
Mpishi Poa cooking oils and fats. They are also the manufacturers of
Sawa bathing soap and Whitewash Extra — a three-in-one laundry soap.
Last
year, the manufacturer lost a court fight to quash a Sh134 million tax
demand from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) due to a dispute in which
Pwani Oil was accused of having diverted into the local market goods
meant for export.
Justice
Weldon Korir ruled that only KRA’s tax appeals tribunal could determine
whether the company owes the massive tax claim. Pwani Oil had
separately filed an appeal before the KRA tribunal.
The
firm said it had a legitimate expectation that it would be entitled to
certain tax exemptions for the goods intended for export, but the KRA
claimed the firm instead sold the products locally.
The
company had moved to the court in 2014 seeking to stop the taxman from
slapping it with a Sh134 million claim for allegedly failing to export
goods marked for sale outside the country between 2012 and 2013.
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