Del Monte Kenya anticipates higher production capacity after commissioning a Ksh 515 million ($4m) pineapple frozen processing line.
According to the firm, the investment which also includes an 807kW solar power plant will significantly expand the firm’s export capacity and reduce its carbon footprint.
Speaking during the commissioning, Principal Secretary, State Department for Investment Promotion, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, welcomed the announcement as an example of the kind of domestic investment Kenya needs.
“The frozen line and solar plant are exactly the value-addition initiatives that will reduce our reliance on raw exports and position local industries to thrive in global markets. We commend Del Monte Kenya for leading the way,” he said.
Del Monte Kenya Managing Director Wayne Cook said Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) processing line sits on their existing canning infrastructure and can process 3.6 tonnes of pineapple per hour, giving the firm flexibility to supply frozen fruit to industrial buyers in Europe and other markets.
“These facilities signal our future as a catalyst for industrial growth, job creation and rural economic empowerment. Our investment will strengthen Kenya’s agricultural value chain and boost export competitiveness, creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities,” said Cook.
The processing line which is capable of freezing individual pieces of prepared pineapple to below -18°C preserves quality across longer supply chains while reducing the post-harvest losses that have long constrained Kenya’s agricultural export potential.
The firm says its new solar plant which has been developed in partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS) is also expected to reduce the company’s dependence on an often-unreliable national grid, lower long-term energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions.
“The commissioning of the solar PV plant is a demonstration of BECS focus on providing energy as a service tailored to the specific needs of an industrial partner like Del Monte Kenya. BECS designed, built, financed and now operates and maintains the solar facility. Del Monte Kenya’s decision to partner with BECS sends a clear signal to the market: clean energy is a way for Kenyan industry to reduce cost, lower emissions and improve the reliability of energy supply. BECS is proud to support this journey and we see this as the beginning of a much longer and deeper partnership,” added Nicholas Tatrallyay, BECS Managing Director.
Cook noted that the twin investments align with the company’s broader sustainability commitments that support the country’s agenda to enhance food security, drive sustainable growth, and build local industries that can compete globally.
gy solutions. In an operating environment where mains electricity supply can be limited and unpredictable, the solar installation enables the business to harness Kenya’s abundant sunshine to power its operations efficiently and reduce dependence on grid electricity.
Developed in partnership with BECS, the project reflects a shared commitment to advancing clean energy adoption in Kenya. The plant significantly lowers the company’s carbon footprint while enhancing energy security and operational resilience.
The company continues to explore opportunities to expand green energy deployment across its other sites as part of its broader sustainability strategy. It also welcomes continued progress in Kenya’s energy regulatory framework to further incentivize private sector investment in renewable energy. In particular, enabling solar plant owners to export excess power to the national grid would unlock additional value — especially for businesses with seasonal or variable energy demand — and accelerate the country’s transition to a greener energy future.
