Del Monte Kenya Ltd is set to expand its operations by increasing pineapple production in Kibwezi, Makueni County, and starting banana production and processing in Tana River County.
President William Ruto confirmed the plans after meeting the company’s board and management at State House, Nairobi. The delegation was led by Chairman and CEO Muhammad Abu-Ghazaleh and Managing Director Wayne Harvey Cook.
“We welcome and appreciate investors who put their money in our country, and we assure them of all the support they need to set up, do business and expand,” President Ruto said.
Del Monte Kenya is one of the country’s biggest agribusiness companies. It produces canned solid pineapple, juice concentrates, mill juice sugar and cattle feed. Canned pineapple is Kenya’s largest manufactured export, and the country is among the top five pineapple exporters in the world, largely because of Del Monte’s operations.
The company owns about 10,000 acres of pineapple plantations and employs thousands of workers, with women making up a large part of the workforce.
In the past, Del Monte faced criticism from workers and human rights groups over working and living conditions. The company has since taken steps to address some of these concerns, and the government says it will continue working with investors to ensure growth goes hand in hand with fair labour practices and safety.
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