Kakuzi Plc launches packaged loose-leaf tea for Kenyan market 

KENYA – Listed agribusiness firm Kakuzi Plc has expanded its domestic product portfolio with the launch of a quality loose-leaf tea brand targeting the Kenyan market, marking the first time in the company’s history that it is offering packaged tea for local consumption. 

The new product, branded Kakuzi Pure Black Tea, is available in 250-gram and 500-gram consumer packs and forms part of the company’s ongoing product-and-market diversification strategy aimed at boosting earnings and reducing reliance on export-only sales. 

Confirming the launch on February 4, 2025, Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Chris Flowers said the company is prioritising the development of high-quality, locally produced consumer products. 

“This is the first time in our history that we are delivering a quality tea brand for the local market, sourced from our Kaboswa Tea Estate in Nandi County. Kenyans will enjoy quality export-grade Kakuzi tea leaves in convenient consumer packs,” Flowers said. 

According to the company, the tea is grown in the Nandi Hills at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres above sea level, where favourable temperatures, rainfall, and fertile soils contribute to a rich and full-bodied flavour profile.  

Each packet contains more than 2,000 hand-picked and carefully selected tea shoots that are processed and blended locally before packaging for domestic sale. 

Kakuzi said the move to package and sell tea locally is intended to mitigate risks associated with volatility in international tea markets, which have continued to face pricing and demand pressures.  

The company noted that domestic sales are beginning to contribute positively to its balance sheet, complementing its flagship avocado and macadamia export businesses. 

The tea launch adds to a growing range of Kakuzi-branded consumer products introduced in recent years, including ready-to-eat macadamia nuts, cold-pressed macadamia oil, and blueberry products, as the firm continues to expand its value-added offerings. 

The latest product rollout follows Kakuzi’s financial performance for the six months ended June 30, 2025, during which the company reported revenue of Kes 1.511 billion (US$9.44 million), up from Kes 1.175 billion (US$7.34 million) recorded in the same period a year earlier. 

Profit for the period stood at Kes 295.5 million (US$1.85 million), compared with Kes 347.5 million (US$2.17 million) in the prior half-year. The decline was attributed largely to a lower valuation of the avocado crop, despite strong contributions from the macadamia and blueberry divisions. 

Kakuzi has reiterated its long-term strategy to diversify both its crop portfolio and market reach to enhance shareholder returns.  

Over the next decade, the company plans to increase avocado exports from three million to five million four-kilo-equivalent cartons and raise macadamia kernel production from 900 tonnes to 1,500 tonnes. 

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