American Multinational Cargill to Shut Down Tea Handling Operations in Mombasa
Global American multinational Cargill, with diverse operations across agriculture, food, and financial services, is set to close its tea-handling business in Mombasa by December 2024.
According to an internal memo to staff, the decision comes as part of a broader strategy to prioritize core capabilities.
The tea handling business, initially established to support Unilever’s tea sector, is no longer deemed a strategic fit, especially after Unilever’s divestment of its tea business.
With no clear synergies with Cargill’s agriculture and trading divisions, the company has decided to divest its tea operations.
The closure will affect approximately 40 employees in the Mombasa facility.
The move also led to the termination of Tea Business Manager Ralph Mwadime who officially ceased his employment with Cargill Kenya on November 8, 2024, as noted in an internal communication to staff.
Insiders say that many of its former clients such as Mitchell Cotts, Van Rees and KTDA-Chai Trading, have already shifted to other service providers.
