As Mauritius drafts its 2026–2027 budget, its largest beverage company is making a defining investment
MAURITIUS, With a US$15 million (MUR 700 million) production line now officially switched on, Phoenix Beverages is no longer just Mauritius’ biggest drinks maker, it’s engineering a regional takeover, one bottle at a time.
The inauguration, announced March 5, doubles the company’s soft drink manufacturing capacity and arrives at a charged moment: Mauritius is currently in the midst of 2026–2027 budget consultations led by the Ministry of Finance, making the timing as political as it is commercial.
“We are not just inaugurating a production line; it is a new energy, a new rhythm for Phoenix Beverages.” — Bernard Theys, CEO, Phoenix Beverages
The new facility is no ordinary upgrade. It integrates high-performance motors, LED lighting, and optimised production processes designed to slash water consumption, all while meeting international manufacturing benchmarks. The investment forms part of a broader industrial transformation programme Phoenix launched in 2023.
But the headline is what comes next. Phoenix, the exclusive Coca-Cola bottling partner in Mauritius for over 70 years, has been steadily building a regional empire. Its subsidiary Edena Boissons in Réunion Island, acquired in 2017, will officially take over Coca-Cola production and distribution on the island in 2026, ending Brasseries de Bourbon’s more than 30-year run producing the brand locally. The company also acquired a 54.4% stake in Seychelles Breweries Limited from Diageo for approximately $80 million, and has steadily grown its position in African Originals Limited, a Kenyan craft cider and spirits maker, to a 40.6% holding.
The expanded Mauritius production line directly feeds that ambition. The increased output is expected to strengthen exports to La Réunion and Seychelles, two markets Phoenix now controls more firmly than ever.
“The revival and transformation of our economy rest on a fully shared responsibility.” — Arnaud Lagesse, Chairman, Phoenix Beverages
Chairman Lagesse framed the investment as a partnership between private enterprise and the Mauritian state, calling on both sides to align behind national economic development. It is a message that resonates in a country where Phoenix is woven into the fabric of everyday life. The group employs over 1,650 collaborators and operates four production plants across Mauritius and Réunion Island. For the financial year ended June 2025, the company posted turnover of MUR 13.4 billion, up 10.1% year-on-year.
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam reached back to 1953, the year Phoenix signed its landmark bottling agreement with The Coca-Cola Company ,to underscore how far the company has carried Mauritius’ industrial identity. That agreement marked the start of a journey defined by resilience, adaptability, and innovation, one that has since grown into a leading FMCG presence across the Indian Ocean region. His message to manufacturers was pointed:
“Being adaptable is no longer enough. We must demonstrate that we are adaptable. Adaptability is the new resilience.” — Navin Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius
The new line lands as the broader African beverage industry wrestles with energy costs and infrastructure pressure. Nigerian beverage plants are haemorrhaging money on energy, a problem Phoenix appears to be proactively solving on its home turf before it scales. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola Nigeria’s push for consumer-driven growth and Pernod Ricard’s African premiumisation play point to a continent-wide moment where drinks companies are being asked to do more, faster.
With brands now present across the Indian Ocean, Africa, Australia, and Europe, Phoenix Beverages is leaving very little doubt about where it intends to sit in the region’s drinks hierarchy.
Further Reading:
- Nigerian Beverage Plants Are Haemorrhaging Money on Energy, And Most Have No Idea Where
- Coca-Cola Nigeria Bets Big on Consumer Rewards as Economy Shows Signs of Recovery
- Africa’s Drinks Industry Has a Sober Problem, & a Bigger Opportunity
- Pernod Ricard Bets Big on Premium Spirits to Capture Nigeria’s Booming Drinking Culture
