470 bar operators apply for Kenya Breweries Limited support

470 restaurant and bar operators in Kenya have so far applied for Kenya Breweries Limited’s Ksh. 330million ‘Raise the Bar’ initiative.

KBL Acting Sales Director Joel Kamau said that the company expects the number of applications for the initiative to rise as the deadline nears, as he also assured applicants of transparency in the process.

“We expect the number of applications to increase as the deadline nears. So far, we have received 470 applications, and we encourage more outlets to apply for the program to avoid being left out. The program is very transparent, and no fees are charged for an outlet to be selected,” he said.

Mr. Kamau further added that the initiative would provide a much-needed boost to outlets in the wake of the challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 crisis, which led to a dip in business.

“Ours is to stand with the businesses and help them get back on their feet. 2020 was a really tough year for many businesses, and hospitality was one of the hardest hit. Now with business operations resuming, we want to ensure that the outlets are well prepared to operate safely and also provide confidence to the customers,” he added.

The program aims to help pubs and eateries recover from the COVID-19 disruptions and targets to support 11,000 outlets with practical equipment to meet basic Covid-19 mitigation guidelines such as social distancing and hand hygiene.

This will help them reopen and operate in a safe and healthy environment.

The initiative, which was officially rolled out in December last year, also involves the training of outlets’ personnel to ensure that they are well equipped with the requisite skills to implement the safety standards demanded.

Nightclubs and restaurants remain constrained due to the continued COVID-19 containment measures, which include the night curfew and limitations on meetings and gatherings, underpinning the need to support them as they gradually readjust to the current demands.

The program is part of Diageo’s Ksh.11 billion ($100 million) global fund to support bars and pubs bounce back after months of disruption.