Del Monte Kenya has unveiled a new pineapple freezing facility alongside an 807kW solar power installation, moves aimed at strengthening export capacity while trimming its environmental impact.
The US$ 4 million Individually Quick Frozen processing line freezes prepared pineapple pieces to temperatures below minus 18 degrees Celsius, preserving quality over extended supply chains and curbing post-harvest losses.
The new plant forms part of the company’s broader diversification plan, paving the way for processing additional fruits and vegetables locally.
Meanwhile, the solar installation, developed in partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions, is expected to cut reliance on the national grid, ease long-term energy costs, and lower carbon emissions.
“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 Wayne Cook, Managing Director of Del Monte Kenya.
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The IQF line has capacity to handle 3.6 tonnes of pineapple per hour, offering greater flexibility in raw material use. Pineapples harvested from the company’s plantations are sliced into pieces, chunks or cubes at the canning lines before undergoing inspection, disinfection and dewatering, after which they proceed to the freezing unit.
Inside the freezer, the fruit moves along a fluidised conveyor bed where each piece is rapidly frozen to below minus 18 degrees Celsius. The final product is then packed in poly-lined cartons and shipped in bulk for industrial clients, largely in export markets.
Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Investment Promotion, said the projects exemplify value-addition efforts that reduce dependence on raw exports and enhance the competitiveness of local industries in international markets.
