Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed agribusiness firm Kakuzi Plc has doubled its dividend payout to shareholders after posting a sharp recovery in profits, buoyed by strong avocado exports and an ongoing diversification strategy aimed at cushioning the company from global market risks.
Shareholders approved a first and final dividend of KSh16 per ordinary share for the financial year ended December 2025, up from KSh8 paid the previous year, following a strong rebound in earnings.
The superfoods producer, which exports avocados, macadamia and blueberries, reported a pre-tax profit of KSh568 million from revenues of KSh5.4 billion, reversing a KSh167 million pre-tax loss recorded in 2024. Net earnings after tax stood at KSh387.5 million.
A major driver of the turnaround was the avocado business, whose profits nearly doubled to KSh709 million in 2025 from KSh361 million the previous year. The company exported 525 avocado containers during the year, compared to 446 containers in 2024, representing a 23 percent increase in production.
Speaking during the company’s annual general meeting, Kakuzi Managing Director Chris Flowers said the firm remained confident about the long-term viability of avocado exports despite ongoing global economic and geopolitical challenges.
“The fact is, the business is challenging, but exporting fresh avocados remains viable as long as we produce quality fruit,” Flowers said.
He added that the company was pursuing deliberate growth strategies to protect shareholder value and expand international market access.
“We believe growth must be deliberate, purposeful, prudent and asset-preserving. We are not just farmers; we are builders of our economic development,” he said.
According to Kakuzi Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a, geopolitical tensions and market disruptions continue to pose risks to the firm’s flagship avocado business, prompting the company to intensify diversification efforts.
Flowers said Kakuzi was implementing a products-and-market diversification strategy to accelerate growth and reduce overreliance on a single export segment.
The company’s macadamia segment also recorded improved performance, posting profits of KSh365 million compared to KSh69 million the previous year as demand and prices recovered in international markets.
“However, to maintain sustainable demand, the product needs to expand the opportunities for how consumers can experience quality macadamia kernels,” Flowers said.
Kakuzi’s blueberry division equally returned to profitability, recording a KSh5 million profit from a KSh19 million loss a year earlier. Production volumes rose to 90 tonnes from 53 tonnes in 2024.
As part of its long-term sustainability plans, the firm has invested in water infrastructure, including expanding rainwater storage capacity by one million cubic metres to support irrigation resilience.
Company officials also used the AGM to dismiss speculation surrounding its land holdings, insisting the land remains central to future growth plans.
“Kakuzi’s land is not for sale, and neither are we giving it away. It is the bedrock of our future, the source of our strength, and an investment inheritance we are safeguarding for generations to come,” company officials said.
