Del Monte Kenya Officially Commissions Frozen Facility and Solar Plant

Del Monte Kenya Limited has commissioned two landmark facilities at its Thika farm – a state-of-the-art pineapple frozen processing line and an 807kW solar power plant. The Investments, the company says, will significantly expand its export capacity and reduce its carbon footprint.

The $4 million (approximately KES515 million) Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) processing line sits on their existing canning infrastructure. It can process 3.6 tonnes of pineapple per hour, giving Del Monte Kenya the flexibility to supply frozen fruit to industrial buyers in Europe and beyond. By freezing individual pieces of prepared pineapple to below -18°C, the technology preserves quality across longer supply chains while reducing the post-harvest losses that have long constrained Kenya’s agricultural export potential.

“These facilities signal our future as a catalyst for industrial growth, job creation and rural economic empowerment. Our investment will strengthen Kenya’s agricultural value chain and boost export competitiveness, creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities,” said Wayne Cook, Del Monte Kenya’s Managing Director.

The solar plant, developed in partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS), a provider of energy and decarbonization solutions, will reduce the company’s dependence on an often-unreliable national grid, lower long-term energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions. For a facility where electricity demand fluctuates with the agricultural season, on-site generation is both practical and strategic.

Speaking during the commissioning, Principal Secretary, State Department for Investment Promotion, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, welcomed the announcement as an example of the kind of domestic investment Kenya needs.

“The frozen line and solar plant are exactly the value-addition initiatives that will reduce our reliance on raw exports and position local industries to thrive in global markets. We commend Del Monte Kenya for leading the way,” he said.

The PS’s sentiments were echoed by Nicholas Tatrallyay, Managing Director, BECS.

“The commissioning of the solar PV plant is a demonstration of BECS focus on providing energy as a service tailored to the specific needs of an industrial partner like Del Monte Kenya. BECS designed, built, financed, and now operates and maintains the solar facility. Del Monte Kenya’s decision to partner with BECS sends a clear signal to the market: clean energy is a way for the Kenyan industry to reduce cost, lower emissions, and improve the reliability of energy supply. BECS is proud to support this journey, and we see this as the beginning of a much longer and deeper partnership.”

The projects have been welcomed by local communities in Kiambu and Murang’a counties, where Del Monte Kenya is one of the largest employers. Residents said they hoped the expanded processing capacity would translate into more stable jobs and greater economic activity in the surrounding areas.

“These projects by Del Monte change everything for us. It means there will be more jobs for young people, more money in our pockets, which will enable us to take better care of our families,” said Japheth Maingi, a long-term employee at the farm.

Gachanja, an area resident, reflected on the value of clean energy: “We are proud to see such a big plant that runs on sunlight installed in our area. As Del Monte Kenya neighbours, we look forward to reaping the benefits of cheaper, more reliable power.”

These twin milestones coincide with Kenya’s push for renewable energy and a future with more value-added, export-oriented products — goals that are vital for national development. The initiatives align with the company’s broader sustainability commitments that support the country’s agenda to enhance food security, drive sustainable growth, and build local industries that can compete globally.

About Individually Quick Frozen (IQF), the newest pineapple processing line

Del Monte Kenya Limited (DMKL) has installed an IQF facility within the existing canning infrastructure. The $4 million facility has the capacity to process 3.6 tons of pineapple per hour, giving DMKL additional flexibility in raw material utilization.

Fresh pineapple sourced from the plantations is prepared into pieces, chunks, tidbits or cubes at the canning lines, then goes through a sequence of process steps which include inspection, disinfection and dewatering before entering to the freezing unit. In the freezer, the product is conveyed in a fluidized conveyor bed and each piece is frozen to below minus 18 degrees centigrade for quality preservation. Final IQF product is packed in polylinned cartons and sold in bulk cartons for industrial use mainly in the export market.

All IQF line sort-outs are put back to the concentrate line, thereby eliminating waste to landfills, which further aligns with DMKL’s sustainability agenda to reduce food loss and waste to landfills.

The IQF plant is part of a diversification strategy for DMKL to venture into the processing of other fruits and vegetables in Kenya. It includes a mango processing line capable of handling both company-grown fruit and produce sourced from smallholder outgrowers, opening a new route to market for Kenyan farmers.

The plant has recently been audited for compliance with FSSC 22000 food safety and quality standards and is awaiting certification. DMKL looks forward to exporting various IQF frozen fruits and vegetables to Europe market and across the world.

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