Nestlé South Africa has opened its expanded instant coffee manufacturing plant in Estcourt following a R1.2bn ($84m) investment.

This forms part of the company’s R2.9bn ($203m) foreign direct investment in the last five years.

The expansion includes the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, a new coffee processing plant, and the upgradation of existing coffee processing and coffee drying plants.

“Through this investment, we will increase the capacity of our coffee factory and meet the growing consumer demand for coffee in the region.”

Since construction commenced, at least 20 direct and more than 470 indirect jobs have been created.

Nestlé South Africa corporate affairs director Ravi Pillay said: "Investments of this magnitude demonstrate the Nestlé Group’s commitment to long-term business building and the economic development in Africa.

"Through this investment, we will increase the capacity of our coffee factory and meet the growing consumer demand for coffee in the region.

"This is also aligned with our ambition of being the world’s leading nutrition,hHealth and wellness company while offering our consumers quality, nutritious and affordable products."

The Estcourt factory is one of the first of three the company acquired when it established its presence in South Africa in 1916.

This year marks Nestle’s 100th year of operations in the country.