Kerry, an Irish multinational taste and nutrition company, has opened an Application and Development centre in Kenya to support its customers in East Africa and drive industry innovation. The opening of the high-tech labs is intended to bring locally produced, sustainably produced food and taste solutions to the continent, as well as to support co-creation with customers as the company expands in the region.
Attendees were treated to a full menu of innovative food and beverage concepts inspired by Kenyan culinary tradition, a vibrant style with elements of coastal and distinctly East African ingredients and flavours, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Customers sampled a delectable plant-based buffet as well as innovative snack and beverage offerings featuring East African flavours reimagined in novel ways by Kerry food scientists.
"Kerry has spent the last 50 years focusing on meeting local consumer needs based on great taste – one of the most important criteria in any food or beverage."
"Our suite of world-leading technologies, combined with our expertise, ensures that we can continue to collaborate with our customers to produce great tasting, nutritious products that are environmentally friendly," said Peter Dillane, Kerry's VP for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa.
The expansion in East Africa follows the launch of Kerry's Future Food Africa commitment, which acknowledges the continent's challenges and the fact that African producers require African solutions to deliver sustainable, healthy nutrition solutions. The pledge emphasizes food waste reduction, authentic local flavour, nutrition solutions, plant-based options, and localization.
"The future of food culture will be shaped by innovation through dynamic technologies." It is a genuine understanding and celebration of our African food traditions reimagined for the modern era.
"Through the transformation of our locally grown ingredients, we believe in inspiring food and nourishing life." "Kerry's Future Food Africa commitment focuses on reducing food waste, providing authentic local flavour, nutrition solutions, plant-based options, and localization," Kerry says.
Kerry opened the largest and most advanced taste manufacturing facility in Africa earlier this month in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The 40 million USD facility is regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly manufacturing sites, with numerous sustainability features such as low energy consumption equipment, solar power generation to reduce consumption from the local grid, waste heat capture, and efficient water capture, reuse, and reduction.
The company acquired pan-African group Afribon in December 2021, a specialist in the development, production, and marketing of food flavours for the Beverage, Confectionery, Bakery, and Dairy markets in Rwanda, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Kerry aims to reduce the environmental and social impacts of the food industry value chain with its innovation expertise, solutions portfolio, and sustainability commitments so that consumers everywhere can make better, healthier choices and leave a better world for future generations.
