End of the road for Softa?

Softa Bottling Company was last week forced to close shop due to financial difficulties after its founder peter Kuguru failed to secure a joint venture partner.

Before the beverage company folded, it was manufacturing products among them the Softa soda, had started gaining acceptance, especially among low-income consumers in its two-decade operation.

“It is notified that at the expiry of three months from the date of this gazette, the names of the undermentioned companies shall, unless cause is shown to the contrary, be struck off the register of companies and the company shall be dissolved,” the notice in the Kenya Gazette on Friday read in part.

The notice was issued by Ms Alice Mwendwa on behalf of the registrar of companies. It was dated July 30, which means the company will seize to exist from October 30.

The firm had previously reported an annual turnover of over Sh700 million – with two manufacturing plants: a Sh40 million plant put up in 1997 had a capacity of producing and a Sh115 million plant bought in 2003.