Welcome back to the Mulleys team blog! Since the last post, our team has been busy coordinating with the Mulleys board of directors to begin rigorous data collection and research analyses to best fulfill our role here in Kenya.
Since our meeting with the Directors of Mulleys we were able to narrow our focus to the supply chain management and marketing of fresh goods such as bakery, produce, and meat products. Understanding the entire value chain of these diverse products has taken us on an exciting adventure spanning numerous visits to store suppliers of local produce, meat, and fish in addition to the Mulleys offsite bakery, distribution warehouses, and wholesale operations.
At African Green Farm, we toured fields of tomatoes, spinach, squash, sweet potato, maize, various fruits and other vegetables and mixed livestock. The operation emulates sustainability in that it utilizes no fertilizer, little to no chemical spraying, strategic planting to minimize erosion, and more. New technology, introduced courtesy of the hard work of Isabelle’s son and his wife, will allow the farm to use recycled biomass to dry foods and begin processing their own goods for sale. The various other operations we had the privilege of visiting were equally as impressive in their own unique way. After the tour, we shared mandasi (Kenyan doughnut), cassava chips, tea and juice, once again demonstrating the incredible hospitality we have experienced in Kenya thus far.
Our team has also gained feedback pertaining to our research from outside stakeholders. We had the fortunate privilege to meet with a group of individuals from the International Center of Tropical Agriculture, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Smart Logistics, Purdue University and Green Without Borders. These partners provided our team useful insight into the broader context of nutrition, fruit and vegetable access, healthy value added goods, and more in Kenya.
During this array of visits, we have gained useful information about sustainable farm practices, production challenges, and logistics of Mulleys. We’re extremely grateful to the accommodating directors, staff, family and suppliers of the company who have worked hard to assist us in coordinating these meetings and providing us with any information we need.
Mulleys Supermarkets 