Kenchic 2021

KENCHIC

Pan-African Poultry Supplying global brands and international companies, we look at Kenchic and speak with Managing Director Jim Tozer about the company’s quality food produce going from farm to fork Writer: Marcus Kääpä Project Manager: Kyle Livingstone

K

enchic is a giant in the African food and drink space.

The industry itself has huge potential. The poultry food sector for both large scale operations and the smaller scale farmer is a frontier of great opportunity.

Within this space Kenchic Limited is the leading producer of poultry in East and Central Africa based in Kenya, primarily providing day-old chicks and processed chicken. The range of day-old chicks includes broilers, layers, and improved backyard birds (improved indigenous breeds to upscale the small-scale farmers productivity).

On the side of processed chicken there is a full range from fresh and frozen, and whole and cut up.

Kenchic’s products also cover a varied selection of marinade and further processed products such as sausages, burgers, smoked sausages, pâtés, breaded nuggets, strips and burgers, and the company additionally

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processes the full beef, goat and lamb range of meats as well. The company is a key supplier to global brands such as KFC, as well as international hotel chains and airline food services.

“Across all of Kenchic’s operations the company ensures the full vaccination of its chicks in the hatchery to make sure farmers receive the highest quality product possible,” begins Jim Tozer, Managing Director of the company.

YOUTH TO CAREER Kenchic’s product quality is one of the primary reasons why the company is a key player in the space. And for Tozer, the food and beverage industry was a natural sector to move into.

“I am a farmer’s son! Being brought up on a dairy farm, agriculture and food production is in my DNA,” he tells us. “I studied Agricultural Science and Business at Harper Adams University, and after finishing college I took a year out in Kenya.”

Upon his return to the UK, Tozer joined Dalgety PLC; a UK-based AgriSupply company and the largest in Europe. He trained as an Agronomist to advise farmers on key areas such as crop growing, but soon moved into account management to become involved in all aspects of agricultural inputs and finance, working alongside large banks to do so.

AGRICULTURE

KENCHIC “After spending a brief time with the American Agri-giant Cargill Corporation, I returned to Dalgety as a General Manager,” Tozer says. “In 2005, I was approached to work for Kenchic as Head of Operations; a position that enabled me to use my skills and adapt them to the company’s needs.

“While working for Kenchic I have been involved in operations, production, sales and marketing, amongst many others, and I took the

opportunity to become Managing Director in January of last year.”

Tozer now heads one of the largest poultry providers in the promising sector that is African food and drink.

“Despite business in Africa always being challenging with higher risks, the food and drink space is exciting in the sense that a business must ensure it is versatile, adaptable and resilient,” he adds.

“No two days are the same.”

KENCHIC’S MISSION Kenchic has a vision to be the chicken of choice in all its markets. This directs the company through a five year, constantly updated, vision to ensure it stays ahead of the competition and remains relevant. It pushes Kenchic to identify new market and product opportunities that may not be relevant in the present but with potential in the future, and so ensures that the company has started preparation long before it has to execute.

The company holds a large focus on its culture and its function, investing heavily in its staff, such as in the areas of recruitment, development, and training, providing the opportunity for individuals to grow in the business.

Kenchic’s customer focus is paramount. The company works on engagement and partnerships rather than just a transactional relationship, building long term collaborative relations.

The company’s ‘Farm to Fork’ policy that focuses on world standards of production, animal welfare, food safety among other aspects is ingrained in everything it does. Kenchic focuses on producing products and food that the customer knows and will trust.

East African Packaging Industries Ltd. East African packaging Industries Limited (EAPI) is the leading corrugated carton manufacturer in East Africa.

By utilizing the latest technology, equipment and innovations, we stay on the leading edge of the industry while remaining competitive and top in quality. At EAPI our goal is to provide quality products and services while maintaining total customer satisfaction. Corrugated carton is versatile, economic, light, robust, recyclable, practical yet dynamic form of packaging.

There is so much more to corrugated than just cardboard box. It is providing global solutions and benefits for all sorts of applications in all spheres of daily life.

www.eapi.co.ke

Hendrix Genetics Hendrix Genetics is the global leader in breeding laying hens (ISA, Bovans, Dekalb, Shaver, Babcock & Hisex), colored broilers (SASSO) and turkeys (Hybrid).

Our mission is to support and improve the African poultry sector by investing in strong partnerships with local distributors.

We provide optimal technical service to enable you to get the best out of your flock under local circumstances.

We focus on sustainable breeding, resulting in a large variety of poultry breeds. All characterized by their robustness, good livability, high productivity, sharp feed efficiency and excellent product quality.

www.layinghens.hendrix-genetics.com

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AGRICULTURE

The Best Breed for every market

A GLOBAL SUPERSTAR Hendrix Genetics is the global leader in breeding laying hens and colored broilers. Our mission is to support the African egg and poultry industry via the distribution of high quality poultry genetics. The Hendrix Genetics breeds are characterized by their robustness, good livability, high productivity, sharp feed efficiency and excellent product quality.

Find out more about the best chicken breed for your market.

layinghens.hendrix-genetics.com

• A reliable and economic winner • Proven worldwide • High production and excellent persistency • The efficient brown egg layer • Market leader in egg numbers

isa-poultry.com Africa Outlook issue 90 | 5

KENCHIC

Jamesway Chick Master Incubator Jamesway Chick Master Incubator is an international supplier of poultry incubation and ventilation systems.

The combination of two industry leaders, Jamesway and Chick Master, offers our customers a large international footprint featuring an increased support team, the largest network of agents, sales and service staff, and the resources of the industry’s most qualified hatchery professionals.

Customers choose us because we offer robust equipment that stands the test of time and is easy to install, use and maintain.

Jamesway Chick Master Incubator is focused on simplifying your hatchery by developing products to make your hatchery user friendly and efficient.

www.jcmincubator.com

Africa Outlook: Can you tell us about Kenchic’s employees?

Jim Tozer: “We recognise our staff as our most important asset and ensure consistent training at all levels on both technical knowledge and personal development. We look to promote wherever possible from within and carry out bi-annual staff engagement surveys; feedback that informs myself and management how the staff feel about working within Kenchic and ask questions or raise issues if necessary.

“Our long-term service programme recognises those employees that have served milestones with us, and we collectively celebrate this day prior to Christmas each year.”

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INVESTMENT AND GROWTH Kenchic’s primary internal business focus has revolved around both projects and investments that are aimed to optimise efficiency within the company as well as help it grow in this increasingly digital world.

BaToBa, an anacronym for Back to Basics, is a cultural programme that is currently being rolled out across the entire organisation to define Kenchic’s culture. The programme will see cross functional teams focusing on multiple areas of the company, from the employees and work culture to sales and customers, operational efficiencies, and marketing and branding.

“It is a very exciting programme that will engage every level of the business and provide a fantastic employee value proposition,” Tozer informs us.

“Further development of processed products will broaden our range and engage customers’ needs, creating greater awareness of our brand.”

Kenchic also seeks to become part of the Global Food Assurance Accreditation Scheme in order to demonstrate to consumers and retailors the high level of quality in the production of goods in line with global standards.

“On top of this, we are aiming to undertake public business engagement programmes that are in line with local and national government development plans to upskill farmers in all areas of production, finance and marketing,” Tozer tells us proudly. “This will allow farmers to maximise sustainable poultry production alongside raising them from poverty and increasing the protein, nutritional intake and over quality and security of the food produce.”

With the world becoming increasingly digitalised, Kenchic acknowledges its need to remain agile and evolve with its customer base.

The utilisation of the latest digital

AGRICULTURE

Two Great Brands Make One Fantastic Partner Jamesway and Chick Master, have joined forces to provide the incubation industry with solutions for user friendly and efficient hatcheries.

We are proud to be supplying state-of-the-art incubation equipment to African facilities.

Congratulations to Kenchic on their worldclass hatchery!

Talk to JCMI today and find out what we can offer your hatchery.

sales@jcmincubator.com www.jcmincubator.com +1 519 624 4646

LASTING

BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

Chief contractors for Kenchic since 2004...

New farms built at

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Delamere estates Soysambu Kakuzi

Sanya Juu (Tanzania) With each farm consisting of 10 flock houses

Maintenance of all farms in

   

Kajiado Naivasha Nakuru Kakuzi

Phone No. 0722 728 385 . Email gurainent@hotmail.co.uk

+254 (020) 6972000/0722205287 www.nas.Ke www.servair-catering.com

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KENCHIC

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AGRICULTURE

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platforms and applications allows Kenchic to engage with customers in many areas, such as technical service, product ranges, and of course online purchasing.

“Over the last decade we have also invested significantly in all areas of the business,” Tozer elaborates. “Kenchic has invested in a new state of art hatchery, as well as a processing plant and breeder and broiler operations. We will continue to invest in new innovations and technology within these sectors to produce new products and become more efficient overall.”

COMPANY COLLABORATION For Kenchic, a vital element to fluid business operation are the trusted and reliable partnerships that the company maintains.

“On processed chicken supply, we work with a cross section of customers,” Tozer explains. “From the hotel, catering, restaurant areas

to fast foods and grocery retail. We have and will continue to build strong relationships and service levels across our customer base.

“Being key suppliers to global brands such as KFC, international hotel chains, airline catering and the whole grocery retail trade that encompasses companies like Carrefour, Naivas, Quickmart, Cleanshelf, there is a demand for global levels of service and product quality.

“I believe we are recognised by our suppliers as a good company to do business with. Negotiating fair and transparent deals that are win-win and building strong relationships based on openness and trust. Only the supplier can really tell us what they think but I am very focused on all our supply chain and that we are looked at as a professional company that are a pleasure to do business with and look for mutual success.”

KENCHIC MOVING FORWARD On top of its many investments and internal company plans, Kenchic is moving into the next few years with the focus of reaching pre COVID-19 sales targets and expanding its offers to its customer base.

“Another key area is to develop our business in Uganda; a country that has shown excellent growth and revenue, and one that fully accepts the Kenchic brand,” Tozer ends promisingly. “This has huge potential, and it’s an exciting opportunity and time to be working with Kenchic.”

Tel: +254 20 2301518 info@kenchic.com www.kenchic.com

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KENCHIC LIMITED Exsan House, Enterprise Road P.O Box 20052-00200 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +254 203560103,20 2301518 FAX: 020 3560101 info@kenchic.com | md@kenchic.com www.kenchic.com

PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE