Del Monte Kenya Invests Ksh 580 Million In New Fresh Fruit Packing Facility

Del Monte Kenya Limited is marking its 70th anniversary with the announcement of its expansion of production and manufacturing facilities.

The company is currently finalizing a 500 million-shilling new state-of-the-art, fresh fruit packing facility with a processing capacity of 60 tonnes of fresh fruit per year.

The new facility, which is being constructed within Del Monte Kenya’s plantation is scheduled to be completed in August 2019 and is expected to have a big impact on the company’s plans to expand its production and distribution of fresh pineapples and other fresh fruit such as avocados, mangos, and passion fruit.

“Del Monte Kenya plans to source fruit from local and regional growers in Murang’a and Kiambu Counties, we will prepare and package the products from the new Del Monte facility for both local and international markets,” said Stergios Gkaliamoutsas, Managing Director.

The new facility will be a big boost to the local economies of Murang’a and Kiambu Counties where we are set to create 200 new jobs. The Company started its fresh produce operations in 2010 and has seen tremendous growth and success in cultivating Del Monte Gold® Extra sweet pineapple. Since first establishing its Del Monte Kenya Limited division, the Del Monte® brand has become one of Kenya’s most significant contributors to social and economic progress.

Currently, Del Monte Kenya employs over 6,500 employees and creates additional 28,000 jobs indirectly through its activities. The company houses half of its workforce within the company’s premises.

“From the moment we embarked on our relationship with Kenya, just after the country gained its independence, we have been proud to make investments in the people and prosperity of Kenya as a nation,” said Gkaliamoutsas. “Over the past several decades we have turned vacant, unoccupied, unused land into thriving plantations with irrigation and water infrastructure, roads, clinics, and schools that benefit the entire community. We’re now looking forward to taking these accomplishments further alongside the Kenyan government and its people.”

On Del Monte’s agenda is helping the government achieve its Big Four Agenda for local cultivation, agro-processing, and full-value-added support for manufacturing and food security. In the recent East Africa Maritime Awards, Del Monte Kenya received the 2018 Best Exporter of the Year and Best Importer of the Year honors. The award was a recognition of Del Monte Kenya’s leading role as a single exporter of Kenya’s pineapple products and other beverages to Europe and the rest of the world.

The Company also voluntarily engages in programs for Sustainably Grown Certification, the Ethical Trading Initiative, and various Food Safety System Certifications such as ISO 22000:2013 and BRC, among others.

Industry accomplishments aside, some of Del Monte Kenya’s most significant contributions to Kenya come as part of the brand’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative which focuses on three pillars – health, education, and environment. Del Monte operates six medical clinics for employees and their families and conducts free medical camps for immunization and wellness programs for the entire at-large community. On the environmental side of the company’s efforts are numerous clean water initiatives for local and surrounding communities, the planting of more than 100,000 trees over the past three years, and ongoing repair and maintenance of roadways.

The company also runs three Early Childhood (ECD) schools, eight nursery schools, three primary schools, and two secondary schools, all of which not only teach valuable skills to children but also provides employment and housing for all teachers of the schools. A robust agricultural/mechanical and production technical exchange, and training and job placement programs also exist for young adults in the community thanks to Del Monte Kenya’s commitment.

“We are keenly aware that our success as a company is directly related to the health and welfare of those we work with and the people that we serve,” said Gkaliamoutsas.

Adding, “We are looking forward to continuing to demonstrate the many ways in which Del Monte Kenya can be a valued, respected, responsible corporate citizen of the Republic of Kenya, its economy, and the wellbeing of all its citizens.”