A group of shareholders at agribusiness firm Kakuzi PLC have expressed their support for the company’s ongoing diversification and expansion strategies.

This affirmation came after they participated in a familiarisation tour of Kakuzi's farm operations in Murang’a County today, which provided an overview of the firm's plans and sustainability efforts.

Kakuzi, a leading producer of superfoods, is currently focused on an agricultural diversification agenda aimed at sustainability.

The company has committed a capital investment of Sh100 million for the coming year to execute its plans, which include integrating advanced Agricultural Technology (Ag-Tech), enhancing water stewardship, reducing carbon emissions, minimising waste, and potentially introducing new commercial products.

Among these products are blueberries and an expanded livestock range, according to Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Chris Flowers.

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Flowers emphasised that the company’s future depends on its diversification efforts, with a particular focus on sustainability.

He outlined key areas such as technological integration and environmental responsibility as cornerstones of this approach.

"Market diversification for Kakuzi is a key part of our strategy not only for export but also for the growing domestic and regional markets," Flowers stated

"Having the combination of avocado, macadamia, and hopefully, blueberries as export crops being sent to Europe, China, India, the Middle East, America, Japan and the UK, as well as a strong domestic value addition range, we believe, gives us the greatest opportunities to minimise shareholder risks and maximise returns."

The company’s Chairman, Nicholas Ng’ang’a, highlighted Kakuzi’s evolution from a traditional farm into a global agribusiness player.

He noted that the firm’s growth strategy has been underscored by a focus on investor relations, with the shareholder familiarisation tours playing a significant role.

"Our shareholders are our primary stakeholders, and we’re proud they can come to visit us today and understand how their investment is operating. We’re particularly proud to showcase our climate-smart agriculture, which speaks to the sustainability of their investment portfolio," Ng'ang'a remarked.

"The complexity we face today is greater than it was during the Covid Pandemic," Flowers said while addressing the challenges the company faces.

He also pointed out the increasing complexity of the global market landscape.

"We are now dealing with new significant problems beyond our control, such as complex global logistics caused by the closure of the Red Sea shipping routes and climate change, making agriculture far less predictable," Flowers added.

Kakuzi's shareholder base continues to expand, with the company's share register showing an increase to 1,395 shareholders as of 31 December 2023, compared to 1,362 the previous year.

Of this group, 1,154 are local individual investors holding over 8 million shares, while 97 local institutional investors hold more than 5.5 million shares.

This robust shareholder engagement, along with Kakuzi’s commitment to diversification, has positioned the company for continued growth both domestically and internationally.