Retailers around Kigali City have increased soda prices because they say the supply for these products is inadequate. In some places, a bottle of soda has increased by Frw100 from its normal price. A bottle of soda now costs Frw300. Retailers allege that the price increase is because Bralirwa, the only soft drink manufacturer in Rwanda, has failed to make enough product. Marie Umutoni, a retail owner in Kicukiro, said for the last eight days, buying sodas for restocking has been a problem. She said she has had to spend money searching for crates of soda, which also adds to the increased price. However, Door Plantenga, Bralirwa’s managing director, refuted the allegations. She explained that there has not been any shortage in the supply but rather an 18 per cent increase in soda demand, pointing out that consumption has increased from 16.4 million litres last year to 20 million litres this year. Plantenga also claimed that the shortage could have been because of two public holidays that stalled their production. “However, production and supply have not changed neither do they have any technical problem,” she said. While she also acknowledged a slight increase in the cost of raw materials, the retail recommended price of soda is still unchanged at Frw175, while the price for wholesalers is unchanged at Frw3650 per crate, leaving some to believe that retailers are taking advantage of the increased demand to hike prices. Ends
