There is a question within the bakery industry of Kenya; what makes Kenblest Bread so special? We spoke with Managing Director Jinit Shah about this. “At Kenblest we only use the finest ingredients,” Shah explains, “Our baker’s flour comes from our very own mill and is fed directly into our bakery through a one of a kind process, in Kenya, which gives our bread it’s distinguished fresh taste.”

WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

GOODNESS IN EVERY SINGLE LOAF

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KENBLEST BAKERY GROUPWWW.KENBLESTGROUP.COM

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Baked to perfection, every loaf of Kenblest white bread has a rich taste as all of their ingredients are sourced with the aim to achieve the best quality bread possible and there is

no compromising on quality for the sake of saving on cost, thus culminating in a unique taste experience.

“Our roots can be traced back to 1937, with the incorporation of Shah Kanji Ladha and Company in Thika, by Kanji Ladha Shah,” Shah explains, “The shop was located in the centre of Thika town and traded in textiles and general goods. Kanji was later joined in 1940, by his cousin HemrajSura Shah.”

He goes on to say that in 1950, their current Chairman, Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah, joined his uncle to fuel further expansion and “Thika Household Suppliers” was formed in 1968, dealing in the supply of foodstuffs, hardware and sundry items to Government bodies, hospitals and schools.

Over the following years, Mohanlal’s three sons also joined the business, first with Anju Mohanlal Shah in 1974. Anju joined after having completed a Diploma in Business Studies from Wandsworth Technical College. His younger brother, Jinit Mohanlal Shah, who had recently completed a Diploma in Business Studies from Romford Polytechnic, later followed him, in 1977.

A decision was made to venture into the capital city of Nairobi and so this saw the formation of “Anjim Fabrics” on Biashara Street, which specialised in bed sheets, blankets and khangas.

Given their strong understanding and experience of the Kenyan market, the directors identified a large gap for good quality bread and so plans were drawn up to expand out into the baking industry, resulting in the incorporation of Kenblest Limited.

KENBLEST LIMITEDIn August 1982, the Kenblest bakery was commissioned with

the prime objective of manufacturing and delivering good quality and affordable bread to Kenyan consumers.

Having completed their higher education abroad, Mohanlal’s three sons were able to embed international business practices into the workings of Kenblest bakery. This enabled the company to prosper and within four short years the bakery expanded its capacity from 80,000 to 230,000 loaves per day. A further expansion in 2006 increased daily production capacity to 330,000

loaves per day, making Kenblest the single largest bread producer under one roof in Kenya.

“The company currently boasts a distribution channel that comprises of over 100 vehicles,” Shah reveals, “Which delivers bread through an extensive network that extends to the most remote of areas. The company directly employs over 700 staff and many more indirectly.”

KIFARU INDUSTRIES LIMITEDIn 1994, Kenblest Limited acquired the assets of the adjacent

Kenya Taitex Mills, which was later rebranded to its present name, Kifaru Industries Limited.

Once a fully-fledged textile factory producing a range of textiles, the company moved into the manufacture of mineral water under the brand name “Acacia” and the milling of Maize meal under the brand name “Two Ten”. The company also manufactures wax paper and is a distributor for Orange Telkom products.

NAV PLASTICS LIMITEDWith a strong foothold in the Kenyan market, in 1994 the

company expanded into the plastics industry, through the installation of a polythene extrusion plant and bag making machinery to cater for Kenblest Bread’s packaging requirements.

The directors held a strong regard for the environment and so Nav Plastics was expanded in 2005, with investment in machinery to manufacture millenary paper bags using recycled paper. Demand for this environmentally friendly product stemmed from both local and international markets and as a result the company embarked on similar projects that placed a strong consideration on the environment, such as a plastic recycling plant.

MCNEEL MILLERS LIMITEDKenblest Limited sought to vertically integrate their operations,

investing in the installation of a 140 tonne/day wheat mill. The mill operated under McNeel Millers manufactures flour for domestic consumption, under the brand name “Two Ten”. The mill also manufactures baker’s flour, which is fed directly into the Kenblest Bakery, ensuring the best quality flour, is used to make the best quality bread.

KENBLEST BAKERY GROUP

“Our flour blend also includes soya flour, which enriches the natural goodness of each loaf and contributes towards a healthier lifestyle, rich in protein,” he adds, “Even the water we use is treated and just the right minerals are retained giving an even healthier loaf.”

Given the rapid increase in demand for the mills’ products, the company is currently undergoing a large scale expansion to increase capacity to 300 tonnes per day. The installation of state of the art Swiss Milling Technology will make McNeel Millers one of the most technologically advanced milling facilities in Africa today, which means even better quality flour and bread for consumers!

With a view to delivering the best quality products at affordable prices to the Kenya Public, Kenblest Group is enjoying rapid growth. With widely diversified activities supported by an incredibly strong and experience network of logistics and warehouses, the Group has every intention of continuing to grow and expand even further.

A strong emphasis is placed on Corporate Social Responsibility and the company donates thousands of loaves and millions of shillings to worthy causes annually. The Group’s main strengths derive from a strong and unified workforce, whichis complemented by strong and ethical working practices. Together with a streamlined and coherent business model, the Group continually strives to better serve the Kenyan public.

After all, success is not derived from the office; it is derived from the market, from the field and from the people. Understand your people and you will succeed.

P. O. Box 584, Nairobi – 00606, Kenya

+254 20 2068600+254 722/735 527280

manish.shah@uniquediesel .net manish@parts-solutions.net.