Pepsi is back in Papua New Guinea, and helping SMEs get a head start

Welcome,

After an on-again, off-again presence in Papua New Guinea, Pacific Industries recently relaunched Pepsi drinks brand – and they are empowering people to set up small businesses to sell it.

A Pacific Industries kiosk, designed for use by SMEs. Credit: Pacific Industries

Since it first launched in PNG in the 1970s, the Pepsi franchise has bounced around different companies, starting with SP Brewery, then Paradise Foods and, just last year, the former Coca-Cola franchisee Pacific Industries, which re-launched the international cola – and its associate products Mountain Dew and Mirinda – in December.

Pacific Industries Director, Everett Chue, says that they were pleased to get the Pepsi franchise because it fills a gap left when they lost the Coca-Cola rights (Coke brought all rights under its listed entity Coca-Cola Amatil in 2009). The Pepsi brand now sits alongside Pacific Industries’ local offerings such as GoGo Cola and Gold Spot Cola, which was launched by Chue’s grandfather during World War 2.

‘Because Pepsi has been around since the 1970s, there is a generation out there that will want, and like, Pepsi. But they have not had the chance to have it for the past 20 years; we are just providing a product that the market wants.’

Passing the taste test

Getting Pepsi flowing back into PNG did not come without its challenges.

‘We were negotiating the contract for almost a year and, in order to become Pepsi-approved, all your facilities have to be audited,’ Chue says. ‘That was an eight-month process of Pepsi reviewing our factory, making recommendations and then us having to upgrade it and make changes to adhere to the international standards. Because our factory is in Rabaul, in a remote area, it is very hard to get specialists up there.’

‘We really like to see someone go from selling a carton of drinks on the street to turning over K1000-plus a week in a little stall.’

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Pepsi also wanted to vet suppliers of raw materials: the sugar, the water and the cans used to produce its iconic cola. Then, once the first batches of Pepsi were made, they were shipped to an international laboratory for testing. Chue and his team passed the taste test.

Empowering people in PNG

Pacific Industries is not just manufacturing soft drinks, however. Under a new ‘kiosk program,’ it is also helping a generation of Papua New Guineans launch their own small businesses. The company builds a three-metre by three-metre kiosk: a secure, lockable “mini-canteen”, with power, lights, fridges and freezers so that people can start their own roadside business.

‘First, we identify an entrepreneur; someone who is interested in starting their own business. Then we help them find a location that will have high traffic and be viable, then we lease this kiosk to them for free, essentially, as long as they adhere to certain terms like not selling directly competing products.’

They can sell additional items at their kiosk, but not products that are in direct competition with Pacific Industries’ products.

So far, the program has produced 60-plus kiosks in the Port Moresby area and Chue’s team of 12 is producing around two kiosks a day.

‘We deliver the kiosk to the entrepreneur and we provide an avenue for them to start a small business and it is working really well. We really like to see someone go from selling a carton of drinks on the street to turning over K1000-plus a week in a little stall. We stock it, provide signage and assist them the whole way.’

Chue sees the program as an important way to grow the SME sector.

‘The kiosk program will create employment, generate passive income for landowners and encourage people to become self sufficient. We have seen enormous interest into this kiosk program and see it growing to be a staple part of the SME sector.’

Comments

  1. Emmanuel says

    Hi, I wish to own a Pepsi Kiosk. Please advise me terms and conditions.
    Awaiting your prompt response 🙏🙏🙏

  2. Claudia says

    Need more details on this, how can I get into this SME?
    Claudiamanggal03@gmail.com

  3. Edith Mea Dairi says

    Tastes better. Please bring Pepsi to Porebada village, home of the Bulldogs (Blue&white) and add me in the SME empowerment Program.

  4. RACHEL T DIMIR says

    Very interested to be part of the Kiosh Program as I have a registered SME business. pls email me more info..

  5. Nicholson Amuino says

    Please I love to set up one in my town,, please
    How can I have one?

  6. Helen Kose says

    Hi, I have been a Pepsi lover for as long as I can recall. I am 48 years old now and was very pleased when I saw Pepsi back on the shelves/freezers in shops.
    I have a little market when I sell stuff, I would be very happy if you could give me one of those Kiosk, it will really improve my sales and a better place to sell my drinks (pepsi) and other items.
    Thank you for a positive feedback in-advance. I reside in 6 mile.

  7. Lynn Wulal says

    One of those kiosk be very good for my location please reply with details on how to get one, thanks Lynn phone 762 71581

  8. Edith Parulu says

    I’m interested, please forward me details on how to engage in the kiosk program with Pepsi?
    Eager to hear from you. Thank you.

  9. Robert Ginate says

    I am very much interested in the kiosk program. Please send me details.
    My contact email rginate44@gmail.com/robertginate44@outlook.com

    Mobile 76645147

  10. Geno Sonimi says

    very good initiatives Pacific Industry. well done. I’m interesting it but how to get one for me. Please email me on geno48sonimi@gmail.com or call me on phone 73429654.

  11. Caroline says

    Iam very much interested in your kiosk program, I really want to purchase one..how do I go about it. I live here in Pom , I gave attended short course on entrepreneurship program, therefore I am very interested in this kiosk canteen. If you can forward the details to my Gmail: cjwo2ru@gmail.com
    Thanks

  12. May Alisha Basausau says

    I am very much interested in the kiosk program. Please send me details.

  13. Dickson Lua says

    I’m interested,to use a kiosks to start a SME,purposely to promote,Pacific industries products, please help me deliver one,I’m at 14mile,Ilimo farm.

  14. nice
    very good [img]https://i2.wp.com/www.businessadvantagepng.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kiosk_pepsi.png[/img]

  15. Gerald Enda says

    I live and work at PNG UNIVERSITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
    I would like to have one of your kiosks on campus managed by me.
    Contact me on endagerald41@gmail.com

  16. Bernard Beremu Nanuka says

    Can i have one of this please?

  17. Mary Abau says

    Welcome back to PNG help us women folks in SME. would like a kiosk at my home to sell pepsi

  18. Lorraine says

    Interested to have a kiosk in my district .I can be contacted on my email address:lorrainelautomun@gmail.com
    Thank you

  19. Brian Dyson says

    I truly admire the entrepreneurial enthusiasm displayed in the comments but I urge you all not to consume ANY sugar sodas AT ALL!

    Easily available research (hop to it Govt/Churches,dont you love your people) clearly indicates sweet drinks have spelt disaster for the health of Communities all across the world. In Samoa for example the obesity rates are now over 90% creating a diabetes nightmare of very premature deaths and unsustainable,incredibly expensive,long term medical care.

    The PNG people are the best gardeners in the World. Grow and sell healthy food and drinks from your kiosk.

  20. Don’t forget AROB with that program please,cos we are pepsi fans ever…Welcome pepsi…

  21. Douglas Wama says

    Interested to have a kiosk and iam from yangoru saussia district East sepik province.
    My email address dglswama29@gmail.com
    Thank you

  22. Citi Moni says

    I still remember the Pepsi Power Pack Bus in Lae back in the late 80’s & 90’s.

    ‘It’s PEPSI in PNG’.

  23. Samuel Yombon Copio says

    I loke

  24. Noel McKen says

    Very good initiative by Pacific Industries.
    Thumbs up to the team.

  25. Andrew Akipat says

    Pepsi is good. We some of us want pepsi but pepsi lost and come back to PNG again.

  26. Kelly Bele says

    I would to be street seller here in Porgera,Enga Province. I was a Pepsi cola drinker in the 90’s and I love Pepsi cola drinks

  27. Stanley Ambrose says

    How we get into this kiosk Programme with Pepsi? Please advise ok how or tell us how to get one.

  28. Geoffrey Wiri says

    Very supportive of the Government decision to support Papua New Guinea Citizens to create SME in the country for economic development for the urban and rural disadvantaged communities

  29. Jr Pierce Kupulu says

    I would. Like to try selling PEPSI

  30. Arua Gavera says

    Can I get one of those kiosks please

  31. Johnny wee ying howe says

    Hello may i know if they is any post for salesman in your company.

  32. Anthon Richard says

    Growing in the 70’s – 80’s my favorite drink was Pepsi and knowing me favorite Pepsi is back “am looking forward to drinking it again.

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