Keitt, a Kenyan company, well-known for producing and exporting various types of mangoes, to the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates, shared how it does business and its views on the current industry landscape. Asif Amin, Managing Director of Keitt shared, “We own a few farms, but we also work with contract farmers to keep up with the worldwide growth of mangoes.”In the Middle East where Keitt exports a lot of its Apple mangoes, they face tough competition from Egyptian mangoes, which are usually 50% cheaper. According to Asif, “Egyptian mangoes are cheaper because of its proximity and logistical accessibility to the Middle East.” The Egyptians also have a lot of Keitt and Kent mangoes that are popular in juices. He added that the company also faces internal competition in Africa from countries such as Ghana but he remains unfazed by competition from Latin America and Asia, due to their difference in seasons.
In terms of expansion to other markets Asif mentioned, “We are not yet ready to branch out into Europe. We need to work on getting sanitary permits and certifications to ensure that our company meets European standards. We also need to work with our farmers to produce more Kent and Keitt mangoes which are the popular varieties in Europe.”
The future is bright for the mango industry as demand continues to increase. Asif admits that he doesn’t expect big changes in mango trends in Kenya in the near future. He also urges local farmers to grow both varieties to assure Kenya’s regional dominance.
For more information:
Aisf Amin
Keitt Exporters Limited (Kenya)
Tel: +254-20-2338176
Fax: +254-20-2338175
Email: asif@keitt.co.ke
www.keitt.co.ke