Kakuzi PLC commences export of blueberries to European markets

Kakuzi PLC is set to commence the export of blueberries into the global market as part of its revenue diversification strategy.

The firm has partnered with berries marketing firm Driscoll’s to grow the local and export volumes of the commodity before commencing the exports.

While confirming the blueberry export plans, Kakuzi PLC Managing Director Chris Flowers said a Driscoll’s market evaluation team conducted a fact-finding tour of the firm’s orchards in Makuyu, Murang’a county, early this week.

Renown as the trusted brand for only the finest berries, Driscoll’s is evaluating the possibility of importing premium Kakuzi Blueberries to the European, Middle, and Far East markets and further developing regional sales.

Speaking from Makuyu, Flowers said that the commercial blueberry trials that commenced two years ago had returned some exciting outcomes that will guide the firm’s future investments and expansion for the particular crop.

In the last financial year, Kakuzi the agribusiness firm in Kenya disclosed that the firm’s Blueberry production had grown in the previous financial year. The current blueberry production has been fully sold in the local and export markets.

“Kakuzi’s pilot commercial trials have done what they were meant to do, and we have learned a lot in preparation for our future expansion plans in this blueberry venture,” Flowers said.

On his part, Garland Reiter, The Vice President of Global Blueberry Leadership for Driscoll’s, said that the developments at Kakuzi heralded the dawn of blueberry exports to the international market.

Whilst congratulating Kakuzi and lauding the support of the Kenyan and Chinese authorities for enabling Kenyan avocados to be exported to China, Reiter said that Driscoll’s is looking forward to the possibility of exporting Kenyan Blueberries to China.