Salvo Grima Group has announced its appointment as the national distributor for food and beverages brand Danone in Rwanda.

Danone is a world-leader in dairy, plant-based and medical nutrition product sector and is represented in over 120 countries.

Salvo Grima Group meanwhile mainly specialises in the wholesale distribution of fast-moving consumer goods, including food, toiletries, personal care products, beverages and tobacco.

The Group’s presence in the continent is longstanding as distributors for global brands in North Africa since 1983, with current group CEO Karl Aquilina leading the company into the Tunisian market following an already strong presence in Libya.

The Group’s expansion into East Africa is a more recent development, starting with the set up of a subsidiary based in Djibouti Free Zone in order to reach their growing client base in East Africa.

“We are proud Salvo Grima Group has been chosen by one of the biggest names in the food industry,” said Mr Aquilina.

“This new venture enables us to build on the infrastructure and expertise we have already established in Rwanda.”

Last year, Salvo Grima Group were selected by British American Tobacco to be their national distributor for the country, launching Rwandan operations on 1st October 2020.

“Whilst Rwanda is a new market for us, we are proud to have joined forces with an excellent Rwandan logistics partner, and we have employed a team of 15 new Rwandan staff, including a general manager who is strongly familiar with the market,” Mr Aquilina said at the time in an interview about his company's expansion into Africa.

Salvo Grima Group now employs a large team of Rwanda-based staff, running a showroom and a network of nine depots with Anco Millena, the local logistics partner.

Distribution of Danone products by SGG began across Rwanda on 1st June 2021.

SGG runs operations in eight countries in Europe and Africa, employing over 150 staff in the distribution, retail and wholesale sectors.

Over the past 160 years, Salvo Grima Group has grown to offer comprehensive and flexible solutions of all kinds, including ship supply, yacht provisioning, wholesale, travel retail and distribution services.

Last year marked the Group’s 160th anniversary.