The company history
1977
KETEPA REGISTRATION
The Kenya Tea Packers Limited (KETEPA) was registered as a private company in September 1977 and started its
activities in January 1978.
1992
KETEPA OPENS THE EXPORT MARKET
The company was required by law to serve only the local market. In 1992, the law changed, allowing the export of tea. KETEPA now exports packaged tea to destinations around the world. The headquarters and packaging factory are located in Kericho.
2008
KETEPA LIMITED SHAREHOLDING
KETEPA is owned by the smallholder tea farmers of Kenya through the Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA) and the Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA). The Kenya Tea Development Agency is the majority shareholder representing over 450,000 tea farmers spread throughout the country. These farmers own over 60 tea processing plants nationwide and produce over 60% of Kenya's tea. Other major shareholders include Brooke Bond Kenya Limited (Unilever Tea), which together own 38 tea processing plants and produce about 40% of the tea produced in Kenya.
2010
MAISHA WATER STARTUP
Tea processor, Ketepa entered the crowded bottled water market and launched its own brand, Maisha. Their goal is to open a new revenue stream that will allow them to withstand rising turbulence in the global commodity market. "We have acquired purification and distillation technology to build the new business line and hope to leverage the existing packaging and distribution infrastructure for the business," Ketepa's CEO said.
2012
KETEPA BECOMES ONE OF KTDA'S SUBSIDIARIES
The Kenya Tea Development Agency is the majority shareholder, representing over 450,000 tea farmers spread throughout the country. These farmers own over 60 Tea Processing Factories nationwide and produce over 60% of all Kenyan tea.
2015
KETEPA MARKET FOCUS.
KETEPA is a Kenyan company that provides tea for blending and packaging for local and export markets. The company also processes and fills cold drinks for the Kenyan market. The current objective is to increase returns to shareholders through increased sales of high quality, hygienically packaged value added tea to local and export markets and diversify into other products. Export opportunities especially in developed countries where tea prices are not as important as quality are of interest to the company.