Kenyan firm mulls construction of largest cold chain facility in East Africa

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″][dropcap]K[/dropcap]enyan firm says it is investing USD 70 million to construct the largest cold chain facility in East Africa to bolster food transportation at a time when United Nations estimates that over 40% of food in Sub-Saharan Africa perishes before it reaches a consumer.

Cold Solution’s 15,000 sqm flagship facility in Tatu City Special Economic Zone in Nairobi will be most advanced and efficient in the region.

The facility is flexibly designed to cater for numerous temperature ranges from +26 to -40 C and multiple product ranges, from fresh fruit and vegetables, to pharmaceuticals and vaccines, meats and poultry, and frozen foods.

Cold Solutions Kenya is a portfolio company of ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund, a private equity fund advised by ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited (ARCH).

“Cold Solutions’ one-stop-shops are designed to allow businesses to keep track of products in real-time and facilitate transportation across East Africa through temperature-controlled trucks, either within the inner city or to long-haul destinations,” said Jared Irving, Managing Director, ARCH.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that over 40% of food in Sub-Saharan Africa perishes before it reaches a consumer. This can be as high as 60% for fresh produce in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Chris Barron, Kenya Country Head for Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer, says, “We are delighted to welcome Cold Solutions’ transformational cold storage complex to Tatu Industrial Park, which is home to more than 50 Kenyan, East African and multi-national businesses building best-in-class facilities in Kenya’s first operational Special Economic Zone.”

Tatu City is a 5,000-acre, mixed-use development with homes, schools, offices, a shopping district, medical clinics, nature areas, a sport and entertainment complex, and manufacturing area for more than 150,000 residents and tens of thousands of day visitors.

Schools and businesses are already open at Tatu City, and a range of homes suits all incomes. Tatu City represents a new way of living and thinking for all Kenyans, creating a unique live, work and play environment that is free from traffic congestion and long-distance commuting.

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