Del Monte Kenya’s innovation-driven business model spans the entire supply chain, including the management of pineapple logistics, which significantly contributes to their success.
‘Farm to fork.” “Bean to Bar.” “Field to Table.” “Vine to Wine.”
You’ve probably heard of these popular phrases that highlight the intricate connection between production and consumption.
The phrases emphasize the importance of direct, sustainable, and transparent supply chains, often focusing on quality and sustainability. This is certainly true for Del Monte Kenya, which is dedicated to achieving excellence. Their craftsmanship has enabled them to navigate complex and competitive local and global markets for decades, making them a critical player in the Kenyan economic ecosystem.
From the supply of pineapple production inputs to ensuring customers in destination countries and markets are satisfied with the quality and freshness of the fruit in the local or global market, Del Monte Kenya effectively manages the activities, players and linkages in the entire pineapple value chain to maximize value and enhance its competitiveness and sustainability. Notably, approximately 58 percent of its total operating costs are allocated to the supply chain which has enabled them to thrive in the competitive industry.
This comprehensive approach starts right from crop establishment where experts ensure the seeds or generative material being planted is of the highest quality. They also standardize the process to prevent varying qualities of the produce. Meticulous care has to be taken throughout a crop’s development to prevent damage and degradation of quality. Different workers in this stage are engaged in handling husbandry processes until a desired fruit is harvested.
Leaving nothing to chance, at the Del Monte Kenya Packhouse, the fruits undergo four stages of preparation – including a thorough clean and disinfecting, which is a standard hygienic practice that aims to ensure none of the fruits that will be packed will cause any infections.
The fruits are then sorted and graded, a process that Del Monte Kenya handles with care to prevent anything that could compromise the quality of their renowned products and tarnish the reputation they have painstakingly built as one of the world’s largest producers of pineapples. By sorting and grading the fruits, experts evaluate the varying qualities of the produce for packing, ensuring that consumers receive fruits of the highest quality.
Given the perishable nature of pineapples, their retail value largely depends on the ability to transport the product to the market in a timely manner. Therefore, effective cold chain management is essential to ensure the freshness of these fruits. Cold chain management for pineapples involves storing them at the appropriate temperature and humidity levels to prevent chilling damages and maintain quality. Optimal temperature and packaging can slow the aging of fruits and vegetables by more than 800%.
Recognizing this, Del Monte Kenya carefully packs and labels the fruits before storing them in a cold room. This cold storage process extends the shelf life of the pineapples by up to 30 days during sea transportation and by an additional 7 days on the shelf.
Del Monte Kenya’s innovation-driven business model spans the entire supply chain, including the management of pineapple logistics, which significantly contributes to their success. Beyond crop-picking, the model encompasses various processes, such as demand forecasting, and real-time adjustments to truck schedules, all of which are designed to ensure efficiency in the intricate network.
Transportation, often a time-sensitive task, is carried out using specialized trucks carrying containers known as reefers. These reefers are electronically sealed to prevent tampering and ensure product safety. During transit, the company utilizes data loggers to monitor temperature fluctuations, helping to minimize losses caused by temperature-related damage to the product.
Del Monte Kenya is dedicated to minimizing waste throughout its supply chain. The company implements sustainable practices, such as compressing waste cartons and baling waste tin cans for recycling. Additionally, Del Monte Kenya recycles plastic crates used for transportation and reuses drum packaging materials. These efforts not only help the company save costs but also contribute to reducing environmental pollution.
Ensuring excellence in all these processes – while adhering to Kenyan and International standards of safety and quality – has enabled Del Monte Kenya to not only deliver quality products in the local and international stage but also operate sustainably, benefiting many players in the value chain including: the workforce, local community, government, and suppliers both local and international.