Sasini to Open Coffee Houses in Nairobi

Sasini Ltd has finalised plans to set up coffee houses in Nairobi, in its retail market expansion programme.

Currently, the business is dominated by Java and Dormans Coffee houses. For a start, the company listed at the NSE, will operate three outlets; one at Sasini House, Westgate, a mall coming up in Westlands and a third will be set in Lavington.

"The work is going on in full swing, to ensure the first coffee shop begins later this year," said Mr Peter Muthoka managing director.

The company, which is part of the Nasudi Merali business empire, closed last year as one of the biggest turn around companies after courting value addition from its earlier marketing of raw agricultural produce.

It recorded a Sh349.4 million in pre-tax profit for the year ended September 30, from Sh524.8 million loss in 2005. The change in fortune saw its share price increase from Sh27.75 in June to close the year with a level of Sh150+ before the company effected a 10 to one share split.

Presently, it has three varieties of tea and seven of coffee, including instant coffee. The company has a packaging plant in Mombasa for tea and the coffee mill in Kiambu.

It also announced receipt of various quality certification awards on its products, including a diamond mark of quality on its tea from Kenya Bureau of Standards and UTZ Kapeh certificate for its coffee and Grade A certification by the Ethical Tea Partnership of the United Kingdom.