Pepsi lays off 55 workers

Crown beverages limited, the bottlers of Pepsi Cola in Uganda have undertaken a workforce restructuring exercise that has affected 55 members of the workforce.

The affected are mostly from the sales and marketing functions.

According to a press release issued this evening, the company also said there had been a split in the marketing and sales departments that had until April 1, 2016 been the same, to create two department with the sales arm now being headed by Charles Byonanebye who replaces Innocent Tibayeita.

Commenting on the matter, Simon Lugoloobi, the CEO of Crown Beverages Ltd stated; "this regrettable development has been caused by the economic down turn in the soft drinks sector which has made it necessary for us to rationalize our costs to remain competitive."

Adding that: "We are confident that the new structure will improve financial performance while continuing to offer the much needed employment and contributing to national development by paying taxes to the Government," he said.