What Groupe Kirène does

Groupe Kirène operates as SIAGRO (Société Industrielle Agro-Alimentaire), the flagship agro-food subsidiary of the pan-African conglomerate Groupe Farès, founded in Senegal in 2001. The company manufactures and distributes a multi-category beverage portfolio — natural mineral water (Kirène), fruit juices (Présséa, Bolé), UHT milk under franchise from France's Sodiaal (Candia, Candy'Up), and since 2021 carbonated soft drinks under licence from PepsiCo (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda). Production is anchored at the Kirène underground spring source in Diass (~60 km from Dakar) and uses Tetra Pak aseptic packaging technology for milk and juice lines; Kirène became the first Senegalese mineral water to obtain ISO 22000 certification in 2018. The company is privately held and family-controlled, with Mohamed Farès as Chairman of the Board and Ali Farès as CEO.

The business model combines direct manufacturing of proprietary brands with royalty-bearing licensed production, monetised through three primary revenue streams: own-brand beverage sales (water, juices, dairy), licensing/franchise royalties to PepsiCo and Sodiaal, and ancillary services tied to event-driven and institutional distribution. Go-to-market is hybrid: a dense retail network spanning supermarkets to neighbourhood shops across Senegal and the broader West African sub-region, complemented by event- and community-based direct distribution (religious pilgrimages such as Gamou and Magal, school milk programmes, sports sponsorships). The customer base is highly diversified — individual mass-market consumers across all income levels, schools, healthcare facilities, religious organisations, and SMB retailers — with no disclosed enterprise anchor accounts and no publicly stated pricing model.

SIAGRO positions itself as a national champion of Senegalese manufacturing, leveraging first-mover certifications, local sourcing partnerships (e.g., 6+ tonnes of hibiscus annually from women's cooperatives in Kaolack), and an extensive CSR programme (school milk in 174+ schools, the Bineta Sonkho maternity in Diass, rugby/football/swimming sponsorships) as both a brand-building and stakeholder-engagement mechanism. Strategic priorities visible in 2023–2024 include category expansion (Bolé), capacity extension tied to the AIBD airport-city development, and deeper sub-regional penetration via the 13-airport Senegalese aviation hub strategy.

Name

Groupe Kirène

Legal name

Société Industrielle Agro-Alimentaire (SIAGRO)

Website

https://kirene-groupe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Groupe Kirène (SIAGRO) is a Senegalese multi-brand beverage manufacturer producing mineral water (Kirène), fruit juices (Présséa, Bolé), UHT milk (Candia) and licensed carbonated drinks (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda) for mass-market consumers across Senegal and the West African sub-region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bottled Beverages

NAICS

Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB), Flavored & Sweetened Milk Drinks (Chocolate/Strawberry, Malted Milk) (AFAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Bottled mineral water
• Fruit juice production
• UHT milk processing
• Licensed beverage bottling
• Carbonated soft drinks

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Beverage Production and Sales: SIAGRO generates revenue through manufacturing and selling beverages including natural mineral water (Kirène), fruit juices (Présséa, Bolé), carbonated drinks (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda), and dairy products (Candia, Candy'Up). Products are sold through retail networks across Senegal and West Africa at various price points targeting all consumer segments.
2. Licensed Brand Production: Revenue from producing and commercializing licensed international brands under franchise agreements: PepsiCo beverages (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda since 2021) and Sodiaal's Candia dairy products (since 2006). The company pays licensing royalties for use of these established brand names.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SIAGRO manufactures and distributes a multi-brand portfolio of beverages in Senegal, including natural mineral water (Kirène), fruit juices and nectars (Présséa, Bolé), UHT milk (Candia whole and semi-skimmed), flavored milk for children (Candy'Up), and carbonated soft drinks produced under PepsiCo franchise (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda). Products are packaged using Tetra Pak aseptic technology and ISO 22000-certified processes, sold across Senegal and West Africa through supermarkets, small shops, and institutional channels at price points accessible to all income levels.

Product overview

Groupe Kirène (SIAGRO) is a Senegalese food and beverage company operating as a multi-brand portfolio. The company produces and distributes natural mineral water (Kirène), fruit juices (Présséa, Bolé), UHT milk (Candia), and carbonated soft drinks under PepsiCo license (Pepsi, 7Up, Mirinda). The portfolio includes own brands and licensed franchises, with products manufactured locally at company facilities and distributed throughout Senegal and West Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kirène: First 100% Senegalese natural mineral water brand, sourced from Diass. Certified ISO 22000 in 2018.
• Présséa
• Bolé
• Candia
• Candy'Up
• Pepsi
• 7Up
• Mirinda

Products and services

• Kirène Natural Mineral Water Natural mineral water brand sourced from a protected underground spring at Kirène village in Diass, Senegal. The flagship product of Groupe Kirène, available in still and sparkling (La Pétillante) variants across multiple formats (33cl to 19L). Certified ISO 22000.
• Présséa Fruit Juice Fruit juice brand preferred by Senegalese consumers since 2005. Includes Nectar range, Présséa Fresh light beverages, can format, and Mini Présséa for children in 200ml bricks with eco-friendly cardboard straws. Packaged in Tetra Pak aseptic cartons.
• Bolé Juice Affordable fruit juice brand launched in 2023, positioned as accessible to all budgets. Available in four flavors: Orange, Tropical, Goyave, and Mangue in 1L format.
• Candia Le Lait (UHT Milk) UHT milk brand produced under Sodiaal franchise since 2006. Includes whole milk and semi-skimmed milk in 1L, 500ml, and 200ml formats, packaged using Tetra Pak aseptic technology.
• Candy'Up Flavored Milk Flavored milk brand for children, available in vanilla and strawberry flavors in 200ml Edge format with eco-friendly cardboard straws, produced under the Candia partnership.
• Pepsi Carbonated Soft Drink Carbonated cola soft drink produced and commercialized under PepsiCo partnership since 2021. Available in regular and zero-sugar variants in 33cl cans and 33cl/1L bottles.
• 7Up Lemon Carbonated Soft Drink Lemon-flavored carbonated soft drink produced under PepsiCo partnership. Available in 33cl can, 33cl and 1L bottles.
• Mirinda Fruit-Flavored Carbonated Soft Drink Fruity carbonated soft drink produced under PepsiCo partnership. Available in Orange and Fruits Rouges (red fruits) flavors in 33cl cans and bottles, and 1L bottles.
• Kirène La Pétillante (Sparkling Mineral Water) Sparkling mineral water produced from the Kirène source at Diass, offered as a carbonated variant of the flagship Kirène still mineral water.

Quantifiable outcome

• 174+ schools receiving free milk distribution
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• AIBD SA (Aéroport International Blaise Diagne)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2024SIAGRO and AIBD SA entered into a strategic collaboration to develop joint projects including the Aéroville project (200-hectare modern airport city planned for 2025), SIAGRO factory extension, and creation of a botanical garden within the airport perimeter. Both entities share a common land boundary and aim to strengthen Diass area as West Africa's major aviation hub.
• Tetra PakcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Tetra Pak provides aseptic packaging technology for SIAGRO's milk and juice products. Their equipment eliminates contamination risks and preserves nutritional quality, with over 100 billion packages produced globally. SIAGRO uses Tetra Pak systems for Candia milk and Présséa juice packaging.
• Medshare InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with Medshare International in 2017 for donation of two 40-foot containers of medical equipment and consumables worth 300 million FCFA to the Bineta Sonkho maternity in Diass. The donation included ultrasound equipment, electrosurgical devices, baby scales, examination tables, delivery tables, and oxygen concentrators.
• SodiaalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership with Sodiaal, France's largest dairy cooperative with over 50 years of experience, for production and commercialization of Candia UHT milk products in Senegal. Sodiaal provides the franchise and technical expertise for producing internationally standardized dairy products locally.
• Women's Economic Interest Groups (Kaolack Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIAGRO collaborates with women's cooperatives in the Kaolack region to source hibiscus flowers for Présséa Bissap production. Over 6 tonnes of hibiscus flowers are harvested annually through this partnership, supporting local agriculture and enabling women to valorize their ancestral expertise.
• Dakar Dem DikkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with public transport company Dakar Dem Dikk during Magal de Touba for water distribution to travelers at major bus stations (Colobane, Yoff, Rufisque, Pikine) to ensure hydration during the pilgrimage.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Castel Group: Pan-African beverage conglomerate headquartered in France with major operations across West and North Africa (including Senegal's Soboa brewery). Comparable to Groupe Kirène as a diversified multi-brand beverage company spanning beer, soft drinks, and bottled water across multiple African markets.
• Promasidor: South African-headquartered food and beverage company operating across multiple African countries with brands like Cowbell (dairy) and Power Pasta. Comparable to Groupe Kirène in terms of African dairy and juice product portfolio and multi-country presence.
• Nigerian Bottling Company: Coca-Cola bottler for Nigeria and parts of West Africa, producing carbonated soft drinks and bottled water. Highly comparable to Groupe Kirène in business model — acting as the regional licensed bottler for a global beverage multinational — and in product mix of carbonated drinks and water.
• Fan Milk (Danone): West African dairy and beverage company now operated as a subsidiary of Danone, producing milk, juices, and ice cream across Ghana, Nigeria, and neighboring markets. Closely comparable to Groupe Kirène in product mix (dairy, juice, flavored milk) and West African geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Coca-Cola HBC: Major international Coca-Cola bottler with operations across 28 countries including several African markets. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as a global beverage bottler with similar product mix of carbonated drinks and bottled water, though at substantially larger scale.
• AB InBev: World's largest brewer with significant African beverage operations inherited from SABMiller. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as a major African beverage player with multi-country presence, though operating at substantially larger scale and concentrated in beer.

Regional players

• Bralima: Democratic Republic of Congo beverage company producing beer and soft drinks as a Heineken subsidiary. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as an African multi-category beverage producer, though operating in Central rather than West Africa.
• East African Breweries Limited: Major East African beverage company producing beer and spirits as part of the Diageo group. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as an African multi-category beverage conglomerate, though focused on alcoholic beverages and operating in a different geographic region.
• Solibra: Major beverage producer in Côte d'Ivoire, primarily producing beer and other beverages as part of the Heineken group. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as a regional West African beverage company with a multi-category portfolio, though more skewed toward alcoholic beverages.
• Boissons du Cameroun: Cameroonian brewery and beverage company (formerly SABC), part of the Heineken group, producing beer and soft drinks. Comparable to Groupe Kirène as a West/Central African multi-category beverage producer with regional brand strength.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GroupeKirene1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@groupekirenesenegal
• Facebookfacebook.com/groupeKIRENE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-kir%C3%A8ne
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupe_kirene

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupe Kirène