Ethiopian dairy processor MB Plc, owner of the Family Milk brand, has announced plans to export UHT milk to the neighbouring markets of Sudan, Djibouti and Somaliland.
MB is looking for new markets following the installation of a new UHT milk processing plant in the Lafto Industrial Zone of Addis Ababa. The new processing plant, which was opened in February 2019 and reportedly cost 80m birr ($2.11m), has a capacity of 40,000 litres per day. It allows the company to produce the long-life milk with up to six months of shelf life. MB also operates a plant in the Mebrathail Gofa area of Addis Ababa and operates three raw milk collection centres in the Oromia region.
In 2016, US investment company Schulze Global (also sometimes referred to SGI Frontier Capital) acquired a 45% stake in MB. Founded in 2001, MB produces milk, cheese, butter and yoghurts. It supplies retail and HORECA outlets as well as institutions across Ethiopia. It also has a long term contract with Ethiopian Airlines.