KENYA – Irish multinational taste and nutrition company, Kerry, has opened an Application and Development center in Kenya, to support its customers in East Africa and drive innovation in the sector.
Opening of the high-tech labs is aimed to bring local, sustainably produced food and taste solutions to the continent and support co-creation with customers as it expands in the region.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees were treated to a full menu of innovative food and beverage concepts inspired by Kenyan culinary tradition, a vibrant style with elements of coastal and distinctly East African ingredients and flavours.
Customers sampled a convincing plant-based buffet, as well as innovative snack and beverage offerings with East Africa flavours reimagined in innovative ways by Kerry food scientists.
“For 50 years, Kerry has focused on meeting local consumer needs grounded in great taste – one of the most important criteria in any food or beverage.
“Our suite of world-leading technologies combined with our expertise ensures that we can continue to work with our customers to produce great tasting, nutritious products that are respectful of our planet,” said Peter Dillane, Kerry VP for Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
The expansion in East Africa follows the launch of Kerry’s Future Food Africa commitment, which recognises the challenges facing the continent and that African producers need African solutions to deliver sustainable, healthy nutrition solutions.
The pledge focuses on reducing food waste, delivering authentic local taste, nutrition solutions, plant-based options and localisation.
“It is innovation through dynamic technologies that will shape the future of food culture. It is an authentic understanding and celebration of our African food traditions, reinvented for the present.
“We believe in inspiring food and nourishing life through transformation of our locally grown ingredients. Kerry’s Future Food Africa commitment focuses on reducing food waste, delivering authentic local taste, nutrition solutions, plant-based options and localization,” states Kerry.
Earlier this month, Kerry opened the largest and most advanced taste manufacturing facility in Africa located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The US$40 million facility is deemed to be the most environmentally-efficient manufacturing sites, featuring numerous sustainability features including low energy usage equipment, solar power generation to reduce consumption from the local grid, waste heat capture, and efficient water capture, reuse and reduction.
In December 2021, the company acquired pan-African group Afribon, specialist in the development, production and marketing of food flavours for the Beverage, Confectionary, Bakery and Dairy markets in Rwanda, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
With Kerry’s innovation expertise, solutions portfolio and sustainability commitments, it aims to decrease the environmental and social impacts of the food industry value chain so that consumers everywhere can make better, healthier choices and leave a better world for future generations.
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