Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of SodaStream, the Israeli maker of home carbonated beverages, announced during an economic conference in Israel on Dec. 20 that the company is planning on establishing a manufacturing plant in the Gaza Strip. “We want the people of Gaza to have jobs, real jobs, because where there is prosperity, there can be peace,” Birnbaum said.
SodaStream has turned from being a simple carbonated water plant to a giant worth $3.2 billion. In the second quarter of 2018, the company’s profits jumped by 31% to reach $171 million, and its net income rose 82%. SodaStream has become one of the world’s leading soda producers, marketing its products in 41 countries, including the United States, Canada and Europe.