What Kakuzi does

Kakuzi PLC is a Kenyan diversified agricultural producer, dual-listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, founded in 1927 and headquartered at Makuyu. Its portfolio spans six production lines — avocados (923 hectares), macadamia (1,356 hectares, sold under the Maclands brand), blueberries (10 hectares under polytunnel cultivation), tea (510 hectares), commercial forestry (1,500 hectares), and livestock (4,420 head of cattle) — making it one of the most operationally diversified agribusinesses in East Africa.

The company's commercial model is anchored on B2B export of fresh and processed produce to Europe, the Middle East, China, India, the USA, and Japan, with FY2025 avocado shipments of 525 containers and macadamia volumes on a 139% growth trajectory initiated in 2017. Certifications — GlobalG.A.P, Rainforest Alliance, FSSC 22000, SMETA, GRASP, SPRING, Halal, and Kosher — function as market-access credentials for these export buyers. Revenue is also being diversified into domestic channels through the Kakuzi Farm Market and the Boran Barn restaurant, and into smallholder sourcing via the Avocado Smallholder Programme covering 3,092 farmers.

Operationally, Kakuzi is asset-heavy: 13 million cubic metres of rainwater storage underpin irrigation, and recent leadership additions across agronomy, legal, and agriculture signal ongoing organisational scaling. FY2025 financial results recorded Ksh 5.37 billion in revenue (+12% YoY) and a Ksh 568M pre-tax profit, reversing a prior-year Ksh 167M loss, with macadamia driving the bulk of the profit uplift.

Name

Kakuzi

Legal name

Kakuzi Plc

Website

https://kakuzi.co.ke

Company type

Public

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kakuzi PLC is a Kenyan diversified agribusiness that produces and exports avocados, macadamia, blueberries, tea, and forestry products to European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets under multiple food-safety certifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Thika

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Product Export Sales: Export of avocados, macadamia nuts, blueberries, and tea to international markets including Europe, Middle East, China, India, and North America
2. Domestic Retail Sales: Sales through Kakuzi Farm Market including ready-to-eat macadamia nuts, cold-pressed macadamia oil, avocados, blueberries, and loose-leaf tea products. Domestic market sales exceeding Ksh 50 million annually.
3. Livestock and Forestry Products: Sale of timber products (treated poles, pallets, doors, charcoal, firewood), beef from cattle operations, and dairy products
4. Smallholder Program: Direct purchase from smallholder farmers providing marketing and quality assurance services to 3,092 registered farmers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kakuzi is a publicly listed Kenyan agricultural company that cultivates, processes, and markets avocados, blueberries, macadamia, tea, livestock and commercial forestry products. It controls the full value chain from seedling to fork for core crops, operates a dedicated packhouse with cold storage, and exports to international markets across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. The company also runs a domestic retail channel through the Kakuzi Farm Market and Boran Barn restaurant for value-added macadamia products and other produce.

Product overview

Kakuzi PLC operates as a diversified agricultural company engaged in the cultivation, processing, and marketing of multiple crop and livestock products. The company operates a portfolio of core products including Avocado (923Ha with packhouse and cold storage for export), Macadamia (1,356Ha branded under Maclands as Africa's largest macadamia brand), Blueberry (10Ha under polytunnels), Commercial Forestry (1,500Ha with wood-processing facilities), Livestock & Butchery (4,065 cattle with stud herd), and Tea (510Ha at Kaboswa Estate). The company maintains full value chain control from seedling to fork for key crops, supported by certifications including GlobalG.A.P, FSSC 22000, Halal, and Rainforest Alliance. Kakuzi also operates domestic retail through the Kakuzi Farm Market selling value-added products including macadamia oil, roasted nuts, avocados, and blueberries, and runs an Avocado Smallholder Programme supporting over 3,000 registered farmers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maclands: Brand under which macadamia production is packed and sold. Described as the largest brand of macadamia in Africa, with three countries of origin.

Products and services

• Avocado Avocado production and export operation producing green and black skin cultivars with full value chain control from seedling to fork, including a dedicated packhouse, cold storage, and refrigerated container shipping to international markets.
• Macadamia (Maclands Brand) Macadamia nut production, cracking, and processing under the Maclands brand, the largest macadamia brand in Africa. Products include whole kernels, sized and sorted nuts packed in 11.34kg cartons.
• Blueberry Blueberry cultivation under polytunnels allowing climate control and extended growing seasons, with harvested, sized, sorted, packed, cooled, and dispatched berries for export markets.
• Commercial Forestry Commercial plantation forestry covering 1,500 Ha with operations including wood-processing yard with timber milling, pallet manufacturing, charcoal production, firewood sales, and wood treatment services producing treated poles, doors, and fencing materials.
• Livestock & Butchery Cattle ranching operation with approximately 4,420 cattle including a stud herd and breeding cows registered with Kenya Stud Book. Operations include two small ranch dairies and a slaughterhouse providing cold dressed carcasses for the Kakuzi Butchery and local markets.
• Tea (Kaboswa Tea Estate) Tea production at Kaboswa Tea Estate in Nandi Hills, located 1000-2000 meters above sea level. Green leaf is processed through a managing agent's factory with tea shipped via Mombasa to worldwide destinations. Annual production approximately 2 million kilos.
• Kakuzi Farm Market Domestic retail channel selling value-added products including ready-to-eat macadamia nuts, cold-pressed macadamia oil, macadamia cooking oil, avocados, blueberries, and loose-leaf tea. Domestic market revenue exceeding Ksh 50 million annually.
• Macadamia Value-Added Products Range of value-added macadamia products including edible oil, roasted nuts, and honey-coated roasted kernels. Products sold through domestic retail channels and showcased at trade events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% increase in avocado production year-over-year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• County Government of SiayastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Technical collaboration partnership for avocado and macadamia farming in Siaya County. Kakuzi provides agricultural extension support services, technical training, and seedling support to Siaya county smallholder farmers. The county facilitates farmer delegations visits to Kakuzi orchards and explores acquiring quality Hass avocado and macadamia seedlings.
• Green & GoldcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen & Gold is a specialist macadamia marketing company with a large network of reputable producers and established strategic customer base in various segments globally. Their partnership allows Maclands to access wider markets and provides aligned vision for value add and vertical integration for marketing growth over the next ten years.
• Kepchomo Tea Factory (Eastern Produce Kenya Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen leaf from Kaboswa tea estate is processed at Kepchomo Tea Factory owned by Eastern Produce Kenya Ltd. Made tea is transported by road to Mombasa for shipping to worldwide destinations.
• Camellia PlccoreOthersCamellia Plc is the parent company of Kakuzi. Graham Mclean serves as Director of Agriculture of Camellia Plc and was previously MD of Kakuzi Plc from 2005 to 2013. Kakuzi is part of the Camellia Group's African operations.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Camposol: Peru-based vertically integrated agro-industrial company exporting avocados, blueberries, and other fresh produce globally. Comparable to Kakuzi on integrated avocado and blueberry cultivation with international export channels, though operating from a different geographic base.

Direct peers

• Calavo Growers: US-based avocado marketer and distributor with global sourcing and ripening operations. Directly comparable to Kakuzi on avocado value-chain control from packhouse to retailer across international markets.
• Mission Produce: US-listed global avocado grower, packer, and ripener with sourcing from California, Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. Comparable to Kakuzi on vertically integrated avocado supply chain, ripening/distribution infrastructure, and international export reach.
• Eastern Produce Kenya (James Finlay): Owner of Kepchomo Tea Factory that processes green leaf from Kakuzi's Kaboswa tea estate. Comparable Kenyan tea operator and an active partner in Kakuzi's tea value chain, with shared exposure to Nandi Hills and export to Mombasa.
• Westfalia Fruit: South Africa-headquartered, globally diversified avocado and macadamia producer with vertically integrated operations across multiple origins. Directly comparable to Kakuzi on avocado and macadamia cultivation, processing, and export to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Sasini PLC: Kenyan diversified agricultural company listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, growing tea, coffee, avocado, and macadamia. Directly comparable to Kakuzi on Kenyan-listed diversified crop portfolio and smallholder farmer programs.
• Limoneira: US diversified fresh-produce grower with citrus and avocado operations, real estate development, and food-service distribution. Comparable to Kakuzi on diversified agricultural portfolio and integrated orchard-to-market model for premium fruits.
• Index Fresh: US-headquartered avocado grower-packer-marketer with sourcing from multiple origins including Mexico, Peru, and Colombia. Comparable to Kakuzi on avocado cultivation, ripening, and export to North American and international markets.
• Green & Gold Macadamias: Specialist macadamia marketing company that is Kakuzi's strategic partner for the Maclands brand. Operates a large network of producers with global customer reach, directly comparable on macadamia marketing, value-add, and vertical integration strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Camellia Plc: UK-listed parent/affiliate holding with significant African agricultural operations including prior ownership ties to Kakuzi. Comparable as a broad agricultural incumbent operating tea, macadamia, and other crops in Kenya and across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Kakuzi_Plc
• Facebookfacebook.com/KakuziPlcKenya

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kakuzi