KENYA – Agro-food processor Kakuzi has officially inaugurated a new macadamia oil processing plant with a capacity of 1,000 litres per day, marking a significant step in its expansion and value-addition strategy.
The facility’s opening reflects Kakuzi’s commitment to enhancing local consumption of superfoods and strengthening its position as a leading international agribusiness.
Nicholas Ng’ang’a, Chairperson of Kakuzi, highlighted the company’s evolution from a traditional farm enterprise to a sophisticated agribusiness player with international reach.
He outlined the firm’s strategy to boost local consumption of superfoods such as avocados, macadamias, and blueberries through value-added initiatives.
“As part of our corporate strategy, we are investing in resources to facilitate shared prosperity for all stakeholders. The new macadamia oil processing plant is a key part of this strategy, aiming to more than double local macadamia consumption and create positive ripple effects across the value chain,” Ng’ang’a said.
Kakuzi’s macadamia operations began in 2007 and expanded significantly, with macadamia orchards now covering over 1,379 hectares.
The Kakuzi Macadamia Division currently provides more than 1,200 jobs in rural areas, a number expected to double as the orchards mature.
The company is also investing in the Kakuzi Farmers Market, an enterprise hub designed to offer partnership opportunities to other entrepreneurs, furthering the shared prosperity model.
This initiative aligns with Kakuzi’s strategic growth plan, which includes a strong focus on sustainable crop and animal production to boost shareholder returns and explore non-agricultural revenue streams.
During the firm’s Annual General Meeting, Ng’ang’a emphasized the ongoing diversification plans aimed at reducing reliance on macadamia and avocado crops.
The firm’s pilot project for blueberries has shown promising results, and there are plans to enhance domestic sales and expand exports to emerging markets, such as India and China, beyond the current European markets.
As part of the strategic growth strategies, Kakuzi PLC Managing Director Chris Flowers confirmed plans to nearly double avocado production and exports from 3 million four-kilo equivalent cartons to 5 million over the next ten years.
Additionally, Kakuzi is set to ramp up macadamia production from 900 tons of kernel to 1,500 tons over the same period.
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