Edward Koemans met Kenyan avocado exporter Lucy Njeri at Fruit Logistica in 2014. On March 16, 2023, that eventually led to the launch of a Davis and Saipei joint venture with activities in Kenya and Tanzania. "It's mutually beneficial. We'd recently been exporting more and more to the Indian market under my colleague Deby Ganga's leadership. There's an increasing demand for Tanzanian avocadoes from India. This joint venture means we can now get these much closer from the source in Africa," says Edward.
For Saipei, the partnership offers the chance for closer cooperation with European customers and to supply the market with both conventional and organic Hass and greenskin avocados from Kenya and Tanzania. "Unlike many other Kenyan exporters, we can serve customers with containers and pallets. This market approach meets a need," Lucy says. Although the Chinese market is also open to Kenyan avocados, it is not a priority for Davis-Saipei. "The focus is on exports to Europe and India."
Edward Koemans, Lucy Njeri, Deby Ganga, and Jean Claude Ganza during a visit to the Netherlands last week.
"In the past, Kenyan avocados weren't that well-known in Europe, but that perception is shifting. We've built a good reputation in the European market with our Saipei brand," explains Lucy. "We know the market needs and genuinely focus on premium avocados with the correct dry matter and oil content, meeting European market specifications like Smeta and GlobalGAP certification."
"The window for Kenyan avocados is, thus, good, especially at the start, when Peru has lower volumes. The Kenyan season begins in March and even slightly earlier in Tanzania, and we can extend that season through August-September. The avocado market has been challenging in recent months, but it's now reviving, and we're confident about the summer ahead," Lucy concludes.
For more information:
Edward Koemans / Lucy Njeri
Davis-Saipei
Mob: + 31 (0) 623 667 149
Email: ekoemans@davisworldwide.nl
Email: sales@saipeifoods.co.ke
Website: www.davisworldwide.nl