A new perspective can grow your business

For Martin Ochieng growth comes from not being afraid to try new things. Discover how Maersk helped improve Sasini PLC’s product quality with truly integrated logistics.

"I approach any challenge with an open mindset to seek new paths for Sasini. And Maersk offers me different perspectives on core business by optimizing logistics"
— Martin Ochieng, Group CEO, Sasini PLC

“It's not just pioneering work in this market and in this industry - it’s also global groundbreaking work” Martin Ochieng, Group CEO, Sasini PLC calls the dynamic and creative dialog with Maersk essential to the core business.

Kenyan-based Sasini PLC has been in the tea business for over 70 years and is East Africa's biggest agricultural company. It produces and markets high-quality tea under its own brands, as well as for leading global brands and in addition produces coffee, avocados and macadamia nuts.

“The only thing that is constant for us is seeking new ideas. How can we do this better? Our strategy and our mindset are geared towards new things; challenging what's there today. That is one of the most basic competencies we have”, says Martin Ochieng and points to Maersk’s similar ambitions to think ahead.

The answer to minding quality and supply was a truly integrated logistic solution with Maersk. A sophisticated yet simple approach:

“With tea, it’s critical that you handle it as little as possible. The less you move a bag of tea from one container or one truck to another, the better you protect the quality of your tea. And by placing the Maersk containers directly on the tea farm we do just that. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?” asks Martin Ochieng, giving credit to the partnership with Maersk.

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The operations consist of four large tea estates covering 1.463 hectares and two tea factories with a combined capacity of between 12.000 and 15.000 tons of black tea annually.
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Sasini PLC have fully mechanised their tea plucking. One person harvesting by hand will provide 45 kilos a day. That same individual with the new harvesting machines will provide 6.000 kilos in an eight-hour shift.
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The operations consist of four large tea estates covering 1.463 hectares and two tea factories with a combined capacity of between 12.000 and 15.000 tons of black tea annually.
Sasini PLC have fully mechanised their tea plucking at their tea farm in Kenya.
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Sasini PLC have fully mechanised their tea plucking. One person harvesting by hand will provide 45 kilos a day. That same individual with the new harvesting machines will provide 6.000 kilos in an eight-hour shift.

Truly integrated logistics has become the holistic approach to supply chain management that raises the value of Sasini’s core business. This insightful approach optimizes the flow of goods and information across the entire supply chain, from the manufacturer to the end customer.

“We have to keep challenging ourselves and we have to keep growing. That growth comes from not being afraid to try new things. And our partnership with Maersk takes our journey to new paths”, says Martin Ochieng.

About Sasini PLC

2022 numbers: Sasini is the largest agricultural company in East Africa, and also grows, packs and markets for export, coffee, macadamia and avocado on top of its tea business. Net profit hit 1.17 billion Kenyan Shillings (10,5 million US Dollars) as the financial year ended September 2022.
History: Sasini was initiated in 1952 as a single-farm coffee operation. The tea production opened in 1964 and Sasini PLC has recently ventured into Macadamia and Avocado processing for export.
Capacity: The Sasini tea production is 15,000 tons of black tea annually. 99% of the produce is exported to Pakistan, The United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East Countries.
Sustainability: The company is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya. 30% of the power used in Sasini’s tea production comes from renewable sources.

Discover new paths with truly integrated logistics

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