NAIROBI, Kenya – Nestlé Kenya has launched a new reformulated Nescafé 3in1 giving the product a creamier taste in a move to tap into the increased coffee consumption by youth and the emerging urbanised middle class in the country.
Nescafé has been at the forefront in encouraging Kenyans to drink their own coffee for the last 50 years.
Recently Nestlé unveiled the brand’s new slogan “It all starts with a NESCAFÉ”, which has further helped in popularizing coffee drinking habit among the young people in Kenya and beyond.
Speaking when she unveiled the new Nescafé, 3in1, the Nestlé East Africa Cluster Manager Managing Director, Ms. Ciru Miring’u said the consumption for coffee in Kenya has increased tremendously with Nairobi alone now hosting ten times more coffee bars than it did 5 years ago.
“80 per cent of the coffee consumed in Kenya is instant and this is what has helped catapult coffee drinking which was lastly reported to have jumped by 46 per cent between 2010 and 2014,” said Ms. Miring’u.
The new instant Nescafé 3in1 is suited to the Kenyan palate which gives it an enhanced taste. Nestlé hopes that this will help the Nescafé brand to further penetrate the coffee market.
“We have also maintained the smaller packaging for the Nescafé 3in1 to ensure that more Kenyans have access to the product. This is in line with our commitment to serve all the emerging coffee drinkers as the 18g sachet will ensure every Kenyan can access the product at a smaller quantity and at an affordable price,” said Ms. Miring’u.
In order to ensure there is consistency in the supply of quality coffee beans in Kenya, Nestlé launched its Nescafé Plan programme in 2011 and has since spent over Sh71 million shillings in providing technical support and training to farmers.
The programme currently supports over 41000 coffee farmers in 12 Farmers Cooperative Societies in Eastern and Central Kenya.
“We have in the past 50 years bought coffee beans from Kenya. As the demand for coffee grows so is the need to enhance its supply hence the reason why we have to consistently ensure the sustainability of coffee supply as the Nescafé brand demand continues to rise,” said Ms. Miring’u.
The growing demand of the Nescafé brand and overall popularity of coffee drinking in Kenya can also be attributed to the success of the Nestlé’s MYOWBU (MY OWN BUSINESS) programme where the number of youths engaging in selling Nescafé on the move has grown from less than 100 in 2014 to more than 400 in 2016.
Nestlé works with university students, women and youths who sell the hot beverage in busy public areas such as open markets, stadiums and bus stops.
“Today the MYOWBU programme is hugely successful with vendors earning between Sh400 to 2000 per day.
The vendors undergo intensive hygiene, book keeping and basic financial training. After training each new vendor is given a kit comprising a coffee dispenser, Nescafé products, hot water flasks, disposable cups among others.
Thereafter, they are able to purchase new stocks from nearby shops,” said Ms. Miring’u.
The new reformulated Nescafé 3in1 is now being sold by the MYOWBU vendors and will also be available in all retail stores, shops and kiosks countrywide with a recommended retail price of Sh20 per sachet (20 U.S. cents).
