"Kenya: "Increasing demand for sleeves"

Kenyan rose growers are increasingly supplying their flowers directly to the customers. These flowers need to be wrapped before shipping, so the demand for printed flower sleeves in Kenya is on the rise. This offers opportunities for packaging companies like Broekhof, a Dutch supplier of packaging and decorating materials for the cut flower and ornamental plant industry. In order to enter the African market, they formed a joint venture with the Kenyan based Ramco Group, last January. The joint venture is called Broekhof Africa. This was explained by Muhammad Yusuf of Broekhof Africa at the IFTEX in Nairobi, Kenya.

Muhammad Yusuf at the IFTEX in Nairobi, Kenya.

This joint venture enables Broekhof Holland to supply the Kenyan growers faster. "Now, the products for the ornamental sector can be designed and manufactured in Kenya as all printing divisions of Ramco Group are located in Nairobi." Besides that, the growers also have extensive printing options at Broekhof Africa; they offer both flexo printing and gravure printing. "Most companies can offer one option, but due to the joint venture with Ramco-Group, Broekhof Africa can offer both," said Yusuf.

Sleeves are just a part of what Broekhof Africa is supplying to the flower and plant sector in East Africa. They also offer a large range of packaging materials and accessories. According to Yusuf, the demand for these 'additions' is growing.

In the future, Broekhof is planning to increase its business and supply all ornamental growers in Kenya. "Kenya currently supplies Europe with over 35% of its flowers and we are planning to provide all these flower farms with the packaging materials and accessories," concludes Yusuf.

For more information
Broekhof Africa Ltd
Muhammad Yusuf
Email: info@broekhof.co.ke
www.ramco-group.com/broekhof-africa