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How KFC in Kenya got fried over its chips shortage (the-star.co.ke)

How KFC in Kenya got fried over its chips shortage
Potatoes are, in fact, Kenya's second-most consumed crop after maize.
Potatoes that are safe to eat

Potatoes are, in fact, Kenya's second-most consumed crop after maize, and are cultivated mostly by small-scale farmers.
The problem, apparently, was that potential local suppliers had not gone through KFC's quality assurance process that makes sure "our food is safe for consumption by our customers", the company's East Africa chief executive Jacques Theunissen told the Standard newspaper.
He did however say that other ingredients - such as the buns, flour and ice cream - were bought on the Kenyan market and the company has said it is committed to championing local products.

Cue the social media outrage calls to boycott the fast-food chain and an eventual pledge by the company to find a suitable Kenyan supplier.
Nevertheless, rivals were quick to capitalise.
Chicken Inn released an advert with a smiling man tucking into a box of chips - all locally sourced of course.
Burger King also said it had enough fries.
While these other companies can find alternative sources of potatoes, it is not exactly clear why after 11 years of being in the country, KFC has not found a supplier that meets its standards.


Frances Kimemia, governor of potato-growing Nyandarua county, also weighed in saying that his farmers produce quality vegetables.
He said that KFC's stance was "insensitive to farmers".
The anger has now begun to cool but this row has exposed the gaps in our agricultural system that mean some of our farmers are denied a decent home market.

Relying on imports
We are part of an increasingly integrated regional trade in food, which has its benefits - not least lower prices.
But as a consequence, if Kenya was forced to close its borders to food imports for just one month, many of our favourite products would soon be unavailable or too expensive to purchase.
Imports last year from Uganda, for example, amounted to $250m (£165m).
Goods such as eggs, honey, corn, beans, millet, cassava, sorghum and sweet potatoes plus dairy products are transported across the border and then sold locally for a small profit.......
 
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