Fan Milk to invest 55 billion cedis

Accra, March 24, GNA - Fan Milk Limited would invest 55 billion cedis this year towards its expansion programme, Mr Jesper Jeppesen, Managing Director of the Company, said on Thursday. He said the expansion programme would include the acquisition of new property, purchase of vehicles and push carts for the distribution of the Company's products.

Mr Jeppesen announced this at a breakfast meeting with the Media at which he introduced YOGO Howaru (pronounced 'How are you?'), pro-biotic yoghurt.

He said the Company, which employs about 500 permanent staff, invested about the same amount last year.

The YOGO Howaru, a pro-biotic culture, is the outcome of a five-year research project conducted by the New Zealand Milk and Health Research Centre.

"YOGO Howaru helps to restore the body's needed balance and boosts the immune system and overall health", he said.

Mr Jeppesen extolled the virtues of the product, saying "it significantly reduces the risk of cancer, blood cholesterol levels and the risk of infectious and non-infectious diseases.

"It enhances the function of the digestive system, alleviates the inability to digest milk, prevents intestinal malfunctions and improves nutritional absorption," he said.

The Managing Director said: "The product is good for people of all ages, especially growing children whose immune system are not fully developed, the middle-aged and the elderly whose immune systems have naturally declined with age."

Mrs Angela Nelson, Quality Assurance Manager, said YOGO Howaru had a shelf life of three weeks and must be stored in a refrigerator and not in a freezer since it contained micro- organisms, adding that it had no sugar but derived its sweetness from the bits of fruits in it The Brands Manager, Mr Philip Djabanor said all the raw materials were imported and that research was ongoing to find local substitutes.

The Sales and Marketing Manager, Mr Kwasi Attuah said the Company gave a margin of 20 per cent to retailers, adding that in the food and beverages trade, a margin of 10 per cent was the normal practice. The Company accepts unsold products.