Agricultural firm Kakuzi Plc plans to double avocado exports to China following an engagement with Dalian Yidu Group, a major Chinese importer of fresh fruits and vegetables.
To sustain production, Kakuzi has expanded its avocado orchards by 60 hectares, up from 927 hectares, at the cost of KSh120 million, to meet the ever-growing demand for quality superfoods globally.
“Kakuzi Plc is strategically positioned to provide quality superfoods for the local and export markets.”
“The visit by the team from Dalian Yidu underscores the importance of quality management systems as such buyers undertake rigorous evaluations to enable them to deliver nothing but the best to their discerning customers,” Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Chris Flowers said.
Dalian Yidu has been in the Chinese fresh fruit and vegetable import business since 1988 and has developed formidable international sourcing, cold-chain, and related logistical management structures for its fruit and vegetable business.
“Dalian Yidu is proud to be associated with a quality-conscious Kenyan grower such as Kakuzi, producing quality Hass Avocados in very high demand in China,” Dalian Yidu Group Business Executive Laura Xu said.
“Dalian Yidu has been in the Chinese fresh fruit and vegetables import business since 1988 and has developed formidable international sourcing, cold-chain and related logistical management structure for its fruit and vegetable business.”
Kenya is currently enjoying a market advantage as it is the only approved African source market for fresh Avocado fruits in China.
Alongside Kenya, China counts several leading producers, including Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and Chile, as the approved exporters.
Kakuzi reported a 75.3% increase in net profit for the half-year ending June 2022, owing to higher sales and lower costs.
The company posted a net income of Sh341.2 million in the review period, up from Sh194.6 million a year earlier.
Sales increased by 15.4 per cent to Sh1 billion from Sh888.9 billion due to more avocado and macadamia nut exports.
