BBBI's Nicolas Boulos: "We are here to stay. We built a giant facility and our target is the volume of our containers going up to 10% of Cyprus exports"

"We are here to stay. We built a giant facility: we should employ at full capacity over 100 people, our optimistic target is the volume of containers can go up to 10% of Cyprus exports. What we build is not movable, it’s very well implanted in Ypsonas Limassol, and we intend to keep the growth steady, from here," Nicolas Boulos, Partner, Business Development at Boutique Beverages Bottling Factory International Ltd underlines.

He was speaking to CBN soon after BBBI officially opened its factory in Ypsonas Limassol, something the Lebanese company has described as a milestone in its history and also marking a significant investment in the local economy.

Among other things, Boulos talked about why the company chose to expand to Cyprus, its experience of doing business here so far and why its committed to staying and growing on the island.

The inauguration of the Boutique Beverages Bottling Factory Int'l Ltd (BBBI) factory in Limassol on 10 October is a milestone in the company’s investment in Cyprus. Can you tell us more about the facility?

Freez Mix factory is all about optimization, automation, and sustainability. The production plant is anchored in a 55,000 m2 land, with the ability to produce over one million bottles a day. Our innovation is built on four key pillars:

First, a 5,000 m2 raw material basement, the backbone of our operations. Next, a dedicated building for bottle decoration, equipped with four production lines. At the core is our state-of-the-art bottling facility, featuring two fully automated production lines, each producing an impressive 45,000 bottles per hour, pushing our daily output to this remarkable milestone, one million bottles a day. The last pillar is another 5,000 m2 of warehouse space, ready to store these finished products for distribution worldwide.

We’re all about creating a great environment, with a sustainable future. Powered by 1.2 megawatts of solar energy and helping to preserve the nature of Cyprus, our massive Waste Water Treatment Plant, with a capacity of 350 m3 per day, ensures an intact waste suitable for irrigation.

We minimize our environmental footprint with every bottle we produce.

What are some of the main reasons BBBI decided to make this sizable investment in Cyprus?

After very detailed research, for which country we were about to build our newest factory, Cyprus came naturally for many reasons, the most relevant are:

- European Stamp on our brand Freez Mix

- Proximity to Limassol commercial port: great for in-land transportation.

- Proximity to Beirut: our executive can easily make a 25-minute flight daily from the Group’s headquarters, to train our Cypriot teams, until settled.

- Invest Cyprus / Facilitation unit of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry: This made a huge ease in the start-up period in regard to licensing, permits and constant support.

How has the company’s experience of doing business in Cyprus been so far?

Honestly, I think the Lebanese and the Cypriots are very much alike, we think the same. On a personal level, all our professional relations have been excellent with the Cypriots. Whether with construction partners, suppliers, or clients. Always professional, deadlines met, with the good word first…

Do you believe that BBBI is in Cyprus for the long-term? Are there any upcoming plans you can reveal, involving the island or more widely?

Very much. We are not a real estate company; with all the respect I have for the growth they created on the island. We are here to stay. We built a giant facility: we should employ at full capacity over 100 people, our optimistic target is the volume of containers can go up to 10% of Cyprus exports. What we built is not movable, it’s very well implanted in Ypsonas Limassol, and we intend to keep the growth steady, from here.

While your products are generally exported, many of our readers who are familiar with them have asked when they will be more widely available in Cyprus? Is there a specific timeline in place for this?

It’s true, we’re practically focused on export, but the Cypriot market is a top priority as well. Such an investment can only show its results in the local market. We have full trust in the KEO team, who is handling our distribution in Cyprus, with a goal to make FREEZ MIX a household beverage. There is space in the market for everyone, especially for a premium carbonated soft drink.

We are already listed at many of the big chains, but every brand must have healthy growth in order to maintain its position. In any case, we will not let go. It’s proudly made in Cyprus after all.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Nothing can really give the scale it deserves, but here’s a video that shows a bit of what we are so proud to have in the heart of Cyprus: