Kenyan supermarket chain Naivas has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to improve food safety standards in its 71 stores to meet international standards. The company recently established an environmental health and food safety department to monitor the quality of meat, milk and vegetables in all its outlets.
The retailer aims to build its brand and win customers’ confidence in a world where food safety is a matter of great concern. According to information on the IFC website, contaminated food causes over 91 million people to fall sick in Africa every year. Illnesses caused by the consumption of contaminated food cost the continent $110 billion in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
Beatrice Njoki, a risk manager at Naivas health and food safety department told IFC, “Consumers need the assurance that whatever they are getting from our stores is safe for use”.
Naivas is one of the fastest growing supermarket chains in East Africa. The company is adopting international food safety standards for the health and well-being of its consumers. Additionally, the retailer aims to increase sales of its food products through the process.
“Kenyan consumers face numerous food safety threats such as contaminated vegetables grown along sewer lines, fresh meat with toxic chemicals, and peanut butter and maize flour brands containing aflatoxi,” reads a statement on the IFC website.
IFC has partnered with Naivas to assist the retail chain to establish a food safety team and develop an internal mechanism to monitor and audit food safety practices. In addition, IFC will support Naivas to attain ISO 22000, which is an internationally recognized food safety management system, in its three outlets. Workers in the food department of Naivas supermarket will receive training on food safety to roll out the system in all its stores.
Also read: IFC to Invest KSh 1.59 Bn in Naivas
