BUSINESS

Kakuzi Plc Goes Full Scale on Blueberries With New 30-acre Greenhouse

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Driscoll’s Vice President of Global Blueberry Leadership, Mr Garland Reiter (left) and Kakuzi MD Chris Flowers inspecting Blueberry orchards
Driscoll’s Vice President of Global Blueberry Leadership, Mr Garland Reiter (left) and Kakuzi MD Chris Flowers inspecting Blueberry orchards. [Photo/ Courtesy]
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Kakuzi Plc, a listed agricultural firm, has broken ground on a 30-acre purpose-built greenhouse development to scale its Blueberry business. The move adds blueberries as its third commercial superfood crop alongside avocados and macadamia.

According to Kakuzi 2026 half-year financials, Blueberry production reached 42,000 kg as of June 2026, up five-fold from 8,400 kg in the same period last year, following successful crop trials and variety-selection work.

The blueberry division at Kakuzi swung to a KSh 13million profit in H1 2026 from a KSh 17m loss in H1 2025, with management saying the venture has now demonstrated commercial viability.

Kakuzi says domestic and international demand remains strong, with prices exceeding expectations and production on track to meet annual field and revenue targets.

The positive blueberry results for 2025 have provided the confidence needed to continue expanding this crop.

In 2026, a further 15 ha has been added to the existing 10 ha of blueberries, with the potential to increase this by 25 ha

The firm says this venture has the potential to significantly increase Kakuzi’s revenue streams, diversify markets and logistics routes, and reduce the firm’s exposure to any single crop.

As well as expanding its existing crops and the new blueberry venture, developing a non-agricultural income stream has long been an objective.

Management said is actively exploring various options to enhance value for shareholders. The Company is also exploring value-added avocado products, including frozen pulp and avocado oil, for export markets.

Kakuzi yet to disclose project cost

While Kakuzi has yet to make public the cost of investment in the Blueberry purpose-built greenhouse project, figures gleaned from its approved budgets indicate that this project would cost between upto KSh 420 million.

The firm is likely to dig into its cash reserves, which was pegged at 1,593,203,000 as at end of December 2025.

According to its 2026 half –year results, Blueberry total production was lower than the same period last year, reflecting the timing of harvests from its existing 10 hectares of mature plantings.

The firm said construction of the new expansion is progressing well and will materially increase its productive hectarage once established.

Export shipments have been disrupted by the continuing conflict in the Middle East, its key export destination.

Domestic sales of Blueberries, however, remained resilient. The firm said it is working with its marketing partners to continue the market diversification and remains confident in underlying demand for quality blueberries, both domestically and internationally.

Written by
JACKSON OKOTH

Jackson Okoth Writes for Business Today. He can be reached on email at [email protected]

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