African Originals, the Kenyan gin and cider business, has become certified as a B Corp company, claiming to be the first of its kind in Africa.
The Nairobi-based cider and spirits company becomes Africa’s 81st B Corp – the certification from B Lab for companies meeting certain ESG standards – joining the likes of South African craft wine producer Lubanzi Wines. African Originals said its “impact business model and variety of stakeholder-first commitments” helped it achieve the status.
Founded in 2018, African Originals produces ten SKUs that include ciders, gins, mixers and iced teas. In September last year, it raised US$2m from Phoenix Beverages, a brewer in Mauritius. Bloomberg reported this month that the company is seeking to raise funds once more as demand for the drink grows among younger consumers.
The business reported 80m unit sales in the 12 months of 2024 while “expanding into new markets and launching new products”.
“We craft more than beverages – we craft change,” said founder & CEO Alex Chappatte. “Blending innovation with tradition, we’re on a mission to create a positive and lasting impact across Africa.
“We’re proud to join the B Corp community at this crucial stage in our growth, as we expand rapidly in our home market of Kenya and enter new African markets.”
In March, Heineken acquired the remaining 20% holding in the Distell Wines & Spirits Nigeria unit through its Nigerian Breweries subsidiary. The brewer had spent around EUR2.4bn [US$2.53bn] on creating Newco, a new, 65%-owned entity to house the group’s existing operations in South Africa along with its export businesses in nine African markets including Kenya.
