From Field to Fork The Sunripe Story

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From Field to ForkThe Sunripe Story

• Hasit Shah
• Managing Director
• Sunripe Kenya
• info_at_sunripe.co.ke
• www.sunripe.co.ke
• 23rd September 2009
• Borschette Centre
• European Commission

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• This intervention will present the experience of
  Sunripe Group in producing and exporting fresh
  pre-packed and prepared produce, fruits,
  vegetables and cut flowers from Kenya and
  Tanzania to the EU markets. It will provide an
  overview of the group production, packaging and
  logistics processes, as well as quality policy
  and products diversification and vertical
  integration strategies which will highlight its
  improved market access and business development.

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Kenya Overview
38 Million People, GDP 38Bn, 580,000 sq km
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The Sunripe Group

• Farm, Process, Export Distribute 6,500 T of
  Fresh Produce, Prepared Convenience Packs, Exotic
  Fruits, Organic Fruit Veg Cut-flowers.

Logistics cold chain 3
Markets 1
Production Processing 2
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Sunripe

• 2009 statistics
• Plant out 50 Hectares a week year round
• On our own land, with large contract farmers
  with 1,000 Smallholders
• Team 2,200 employees 4,000 working on
  contract suppliers farm, process market 6,500
  tons to 25 countries weekly
• 500T Organics

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Sunripes evolution

• Established in 1965
• First exports 1969
• 1970s Bulk Produce
• 1980s Niche products
• 1990s Prepared washed ready to cook/eat lines
• 2003 Organics, sophisticated mixes, cut flowers
• Marketed in over 25 countries

Bulk Produce
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Sunripe product evolution

• In the 1980s

• In the 1990s

• In the 21st Century

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Standards Quality, Safety and Legality

• Our produce meets all aspects of Quality, Safety
  and Legality
• Complies with international SPS Requirements
• Compliant with EU Legislation that covers
• MRL residues
• Marketing Standards
• Traceability
• Harmful Organisms
• Compliant with Private Sector Standards on GAP,
  Environment, Labour Processing facilities

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Due Diligence CSR
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Processing, Quality Value Addition
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The cool chain, freight logistics
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Points of Difference

• Sustainable farming guaranteed 52 week supply
• Category management now multi-country sourcing
• Organics IPM reduced chemicals fertilisers
• Unique range of Flowers Exotic Vegetables
• Fresh, no preservatives, not frozen or canned
• Value addition at source
• Long life packaging labeling
• Reliable cool supply chai

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The reasons for growth

• At the onset
• Good market linkages
• Ability to travel / common business languages
• Security of tenure and land titles which are
  essential for investment security
• Good, educated a hard working work force
• Transfer of technology
• Well developed Support, Services Inputs sector
• No restrictive regulations nor interference from
  government as this was a sector that developed
  post independence
• Current Drivers
• Continuous reinvestment
• Access to finance (though not cheap!) but limited
  borrowing
• Improved communications
• Free market fundamentals
• Decent Infrastructure roads / airports / power
• Well controlled Crop Protection inputs sector
• Reliable support from KEPHIS - Kenya Plant
  Protection Inspectorate
• Govt negotiating Free Market Access to the EU
  new FTAs