Nairobi, Kenya – In a strategic move to help reshape East Africa’s food and beverage industry, Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition, partnered with the Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Center (SAFIC) at Strathmore University Business School to host the inaugural CEO Forum, bringing together over 100 influential industry leaders.
Under the theme “Insights and Innovations in the Food and Beverage Industry,” the forum served as a collaborative platform to promote innovation, strengthen industry-academia collaboration, and drive sustainable economic growth across the region.
With Africa poised as a vibrant hub for F&B innovation, the event attracted key stakeholders including CEOs, policymakers, academics, and entrepreneurs to discuss both the opportunities and challenges within the sector. A pivotal panel discussion explored topics such as changing consumer preferences, using sustainability as a competitive advantage, strengthening supply chains, creating new academia-industry collaboration models, and ensuring agile business operations in response to shifting market dynamics.
Hosted at Strathmore University Business School, the event aligns with Kerry’s €1 billion investment in emerging markets. This includes their continued expansion in Africa with a notable entry into Rwanda scheduled for March 2025, aimed at bringing Kerry’s high-quality solutions closer to African manufacturers.
“Bringing together diverse perspectives from industry leaders enables us to develop innovative solutions for the complex challenges businesses face today,” said Jad Neaime, General Manager, Kerry Africa. “The CEO Forum highlights our ongoing commitment to foster collaborative leadership, elevate industry standards, and promote economic growth across Africa. Our substantial investment showcases our belief in the continent’s potential and our mission to strengthen its evolving food ecosystem.”
Ms. Maris Evelyn, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland to Kenya, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the contribution of Irish enterprises toward sustainable development. “Kerry’s growing footprint not only drives economic opportunities but also enables valuable cross-border innovation and knowledge exchange. The Embassy of Ireland is proud to support these transformative partnerships between our nations,” she said.
Dr. Caesar Mwangi, Executive Dean of Strathmore Business School, championed the impact of academia-industry synergy. “Our partnership with Kerry reflects our goal of translating research into real-world impact. This forum has ignited forward-looking dialogue among the region’s top thinkers and decision-makers aimed at fostering a more inclusive and resilient food sector.” In addition, Prof. Simon Nderitu, Director of SAFIC, outlined the centre’s mission to revolutionize African food systems through evidence-based, private sector-driven approaches.
With the largest manufacturing and lab footprint in the African food and beverage industry, Kerry continues to make an impact. Their state-of-the-art Taste Creation Centre of Excellence in South Africa and seven facilities distributed across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, and South Africa reinforce their dedication to advancing the region’s food systems.
As momentum builds, the CEO Forum marks the beginning of a new era of collaborative, forward-looking growth in East Africa’s food and beverage sector.
— V.2 Editorial Team
