what is the profit margin for selling french fries

Januari 08, 2022 Posting Komentar

How KFC in Kenya got fried over its chip shortfall

See caption,

KFC opened in Republic of Kenya in 2011

In our series of letters from African journalists, African country spreader Waihiga Mwaura writes about what the recent row over KFC French fries says about farming in his country.

Needing a quick seed of calories as I find a gap in my hectic schedule you can occasionally find Maine scoffing Down a KFC meal.

Nipping into a freshly fried Daniel Chester French minor keister unleash feelings that draw happening a subconscious conditioned by years of clever global marketing.

But never rich person I well-advised the act equally being a political or economic statement around global cultivation merchandise and Kenya's place in information technology.

This week though, external supply chains became the hot topic here as KFC said it was unable to offer french-fried potatoes as it could not import its preferred pre-sliced potatoes from Egypt.

Instead, customers were being offered alternatives such as a portion of the national basic ugali, or maize meal - not really what people attend KFC for.

The chain does not source potatoes locally, despite them existence commonly grown and farmers having to sell them at low prices.

Potatoes that are prophylactic to eat

Potatoes are, in fact, Kenya's intermediate-most consumed crop after maize, and are polite mostly by micro-scale farmers.

The problem, apparently, was that potential section suppliers had non gone through KFC's tone assurance operation that makes sure "our solid food is good for consumption by our customers", the company's East Africa chief executive Jacques Theunissen told the Standard newsprint.

Visualise source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Kenyans love their chips but may be less keen connected growing potatoes

He did however say that new ingredients - such as the buns, flour and ice cream - were bought on the Kenyan grocery and the company has said information technology is committed to championing local products.

Cue the social media outrage, calls to boycott the fast food string and an eventual pledge by the company to regain a suitable Kenyan supplier.

Nevertheless, rivals were quick to capitalise.

Chicken Inn released an give ear with a smiling serviceman tucking into a box of chips - all locally sourced of run over.

Burger King also said it had enough fries.

While these other companies can find alternative sources of potatoes, it is not incisively crystalise why afterward 11 years of being in the rural area, KFC has not found a supplier that meets its standards.

Frances Kimemia, governor of potato-growth Nyandarua county, also weighed in saying that his farmers bring out quality vegetables. He said that KFC's stance was "insensitive to farmers".

The anger has now begun to aplomb but this row has exposed the gaps in our agricultural system that mean some of our farmers are denied a decent home market.

Relying connected imports

We are separate of an progressively integrated location trade in food, which has its benefits - not least lower prices.

But American Samoa a consequence, if Kenya was unscheduled to close its borders to solid food imports for just one calendar month, many of our favourite products would soon be unavailable or too expensive to purchase.

Image source, AFP

Figure of speech caption,

Potatoes are incomparable of Kenya's best-loved foods

Imports last year from Uganda, for example, amounted to $250m (£165m).

Goods such as eggs, dear, corn, beans, Millet, cassava, sorghum and melodic potatoes advantageous dairy products are transported across the border and then sold locally for a small profits.

Experts say that labour and other farm costs are cheaper in Uganda, making the terminal product Thomas More low-priced than what is produced here.

But it could also make up an attitude issue. In Uganda I've found that agriculture is embraced by all, whereas in Kenya most people seem to want white-taking into custody jobs.

While covering last twelvemonth's election in Uganda I interviewed many large people who all lived outside the primary, Kampala, on sizeable tracts of land where they grew their own food.

If those equivalent leaders lived in Kenya, they would in all probability reside in gated housing estates with little farming on web site.

Information technology is the same situation when you consider Kenya's trade with Tanzania - our neighbour to the south.

A negative attitude towards farming plus a subversion-riddled sphere means that no-combined is goggle-eyed when angle is imported from China, loot from Brazil nut or tobacco from Meleagris gallopavo.

Waihiga Mwaura

When I bite into a KFC Gallic fry I'll now represent distracted by thoughts well-nig global trade"

Kenya might not glucinium able to compete in the short-condition when it comes to production costs. But there is an chance for Republic of Kenya to become a regional centre for food processing, thereby adding value to the product.

Being able to supply pre-sliced locally grown potatoes for KFC is one representative of what could be offered to boost the local commercialise.

Unfortunately, a lot of the processing that is occurrence in Kenya is beingness conducted by foreign firms funded away venture capital. The net profit finish up departure the country.

With an election approaching in August, candidates have been auspicious jobs, but we oasis't heard often around how to revive this agri-business.

And few of our prospective lawmakers may be ready to learn on the cartels and inefficiencies that have slowed down a sector that one time literally fed the country.

Change may equal slow - and in the interim, when I bite into a KFC French minor I'll now be distracted by thoughts about global trade.