A local food processing company has introduced new production methods to meet the growing demand for ready-to-eat and time-saving meals, particularly among Kenya’s expanding middle-class households.
Proctor & Allan (EA) Company Ltd is now producing extruded breakfast cereals, oats, and fortified flours using advanced precooking and extrusion techniques designed to reduce household meal preparation time.
Extrusion technology involves precooking a blend of ground ingredients to create food that is instantly consumable, catering to evolving consumer preferences for convenience, nutrition, and efficiency.
The company’s director, Stephen Nthei, noted that shifting consumer behavior – marked by reduced disposable income, busy lifestyles, and demand for nutritional value – has influenced the food industry to diversify its offerings.
“Households are currently focusing on accessing meals in the shortest time possible, with transfer of bulk cooking time and cost to the manufacturer,” said Mr. Nthei.
“More Kenyans and Africans at large are now consuming breakfast cereals and precooked meals with enhanced nutritive values that are not ordinarily available in basic foodstuffs.”
He added that more Kenyan families are seeking alternatives to traditional meal preparation, opting for processed cereals and precooked flours that combine speed and nutrition.
“The demand for ready-to-eat and all-time cereals has been growing in line with Kenya’s upgrade to a middle-income status and the Country’s focus on agro-processing,” said Mr. Nthei.
The facility responsible for these new product lines was developed in collaboration with a Swiss-based technology firm and is part of a broader push to modernize food processing operations locally.
Kenya’s breakfast cereal market is currently estimated to be worth over KSh 2 billion annually. The company claims it is positioning itself to serve this growing sector while aligning with national strategies such as agro-processing and the “Buy Kenya, Build Kenya” policy.
Founded in the 1940s in Nakuru and now based in Limuru, the company continues to expand its portfolio of processed foods in response to market trends.
