“In 2004, we started with beans and sugar snaps, and our range has been expanded with various vegetables, fruit and even flowers by now. We also received an export licence in the year we started. Our most important sales market for fruit and vegetables is France, and for flowers it is Ireland. We are now also looking for new markets,” says Isabel Onyango-Ong’ara from Celtic Investments.
She says the potential wasn't there earlier, because they did not yet have the volume. “More cultivators have joined recently, and we can therefore offer a larger volume. We now have opportunities to grow, we have a larger numbers of beans in particular. We see much potential in the Netherlands.”
Growth in beans
The products exported by the company are produced in-house, and partially supplied by other cultivators. “We currently have ten member-cultivators with an area of about 20 hectares. Additionally, we personally own 20 hectares as well. We harvest the beans three times per week, so that we can supply the beans as fresh as possible. These are packaged in our own packing station, and meet European requirements. We have various possibilities for packaging, but most buyers choose either 200 or 250 grammes of beans, or loose beans in boxes of three kilograms.”
Various competitors with similar products operate in Kenya. “That is good, and it keeps us sharp. We focus on quality and service, and we do as we promise. We know traceability is increasing in importance, and all of the important information can be found on the packaging.” Isabel emphasises that the weather is an important factor for the company’s success. “We cannot influence many things, such as the weather or certain diseases. But we can monitor the best quality, and that is what we supply.”
