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Del Monte invests Sh516m in value-addition push
Del Monte Kenya Limited Employee Anastacia Wavinya (far right) shows some sliced pineapples to State Department for Investment Promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan Abubakar (far left) during the launch a state-of-the-art pineapple frozen processing line and an 807kW solar power plant at the Thika Farm on February 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
Fruit processor Del Monte Kenya Limited has commissioned a new frozen fruit processing line and an 800-kilowatt solar power plant at its Thika facility, marking an expansion into value-added horticulture exports and renewable energy at the operation.
The investment, valued at about $4 million (Sh516 million), introduces Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) processing to Del Monte’s Kenyan operations, allowing the company to export frozen pineapple and mango products to Europe and other global markets.
An IQF is a technology that freezes individual food items separately at extremely low temperatures, usually with high-speed air circulation.
The method prevents large ice crystals from forming, preserving the food’s texture, flavour, and quality.
The Del Monte launch signals a shift from the firm’s long-standing focus on canned pineapple exports to higher-margin frozen produce, responding to changing global demand for convenience foods and longer shelf-life agricultural products.
Under the IQF line, fresh pineapples will be received from Del Monte plantations, inspected, cleaned, and cut into various sizes before undergoing disinfection and dewatering ahead of freezing at minus 35 degrees Celsius.
The fruit pieces will then be frozen to below minus 22 degrees Celsius on flat conveyor belts, packed into poly-lined cartons, and stored in cold rooms before export in refrigerated containers.
Del Monte Production Manager Japheth Maingi said the frozen products would be sold mainly in bulk cartons for industrial use in overseas markets, expanding Del Monte’s export portfolio beyond canned fruit and juice concentrates.
Mr Maingi said waste generated along the IQF sorting lines will be redirected back into juice concentrate production, reducing food loss and landfill waste in line with the company’s sustainability agenda.
The facility also includes a mango processing line capable of producing both mango puree and frozen mango, allowing the company to process fruit from its own orchards and from contracted outgrowers.
The mango line is expected to deepen Del Monte’s engagement with small-scale farmers, providing an additional market for locally grown mangoes while supporting employment creation across the value chain.
“The plant has recently been audited for compliance with food safety and quality standards, and it is awaiting certification,” said Maingi.
“We look forward to exporting various IQF frozen fruits and vegetables to the European market and across the world, and continue to nourish many families.”
Alongside the processing expansion, Del Monte has commissioned an 800-kilowatt solar power plant to supply clean energy to the facility, in an initiative aimed at lowering electricity costs and reducing carbon emissions.
Kenya Investment Authority chief executive John Mwendwa, who spoke at the launch, said the expansion underscores the importance of reinvestment by existing foreign investors in sustaining Kenya’s growth momentum.
In his address, Mr Mwendwa noted that more than half of new investments entering Kenya come from firms already operating in the country, highlighting the role of investor confidence and policy stability.
“What we are seeing today is an existing investor taking a bigger bet on Kenya, combining export-oriented manufacturing with clean energy,” Mwendwa said.
Del Monte’s expansion comes at a time when global food manufacturers are seeking resilient supply chains, sustainable production, and diversified product offerings amid shifting consumer preferences.
The IQF facility gives Del Monte flexibility to respond to demand for frozen fruits used in food manufacturing, retail, and hospitality markets, complementing its traditional canned exports.
With frozen and processed fruit commanding higher prices and offering longer shelf life, the investment positions Kenya to capture more value from its horticultural output while reducing post-harvest losses.
