Karakuta Fresh Produce, one of the leading Kenyan exporters of Avocado and Fresh Organic Herbs, has announced plans to list by introduction at the Nairobi Securities Exchange(NSE). This is subject to approval from the NSE and the Capital Markets Authority(CMA).

According to Karakuta Fresh Produce Founder and CEO Grace Ngungi, the listing will enable additional investors, including small holder avocado farmers, to participate in and benefit from the entire agricultural value chain.

“Karakuta has spent eight years building what most companies in the sector only aspire to: a state-of-the-art packhouse with one of Kenya’s few high precision grading lines, export channels into Europe, the Gulf and Asia and most recently China. Listing on the NSE is the next natural step. It gives us the governance and transparency that public markets demand, and it positions Karakuta to draw on deeper capital as well as scale production and expand into new markets. We believe this listing gives investors a rare entry point: a vertically integrated, export-ready agribusiness with the infrastructure and market access already in place, at the very start of Karakuta’s public market journey,” said Mrs Ngungi.

The proposed listing is expected to enhance Karakuta Fresh Produce’s visibility and profile in the market, while providing shareholders with a transparent platform for price discovery and trading of their shares.

“It will also position the company to access the capital markets more efficiently as its funding needs evolve,” said Synesis Capital Director, Advisory Services Makopa Mwasaria.

Karakuta Fresh Produce Profile

Established in 2018, Karakuta is located in Kiambu County and sources Hass and Fuerte avocados from more than 3,000 farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

“Before Karakuta, we never knew who would buy our fruit or at what price each season. Now we have a reliable buyer who pays a fair, consistent price and their team has worked well with us on pruning, spacing and pest management, which has made a real difference to our yields. This listing proposal feels like recognition of what farmers like us bring to this business and we are proud to be part of it,” said Njoki Karanja, an avocado farmer.

Quickmart has also announced plans to list at the NSE through an offer for sale, subject to NSE and CMA approvals.

The proposed transaction involves 2 billion existing shares, representing 50% of Quickmart, being offered by its sole shareholder, Sokoni Retail Kenya. This is an offer for sale-not a primary capital raise. Therefore, no new shares will be issued meaning Quickmart itself will not receive proceeds from the transaction.

The proposed offer is expected to launch around September 30th 2026, subject to regulatory approvals

Quickmart has grown from a single store in Nakuru to a giant retail business with 72 outlets spread across 16 Counties.

In 2025, the retail chain reported a net profit of KSh 1.51 billion and revenues of KSh 50.43 billion. The first half of 2026 has seen revenues of KSh 27.27 billion.

The proposed listing of Quickmart gives NSE investors an opportunity to participate directly in a sizeable Kenyan consumer-retail business whose growth has largely taken place outside the listed equities market. For investors, the Quickmart offer price and resulting valuation will be critical.

“The important questions will be what the market is being asked to pay for its earnings, the quality and sustainability of those earnings, the company’s expansion economics, margins, cash generation, balance sheet size and ability to compete in an increasingly consolidated and competitive retail sector,” said CFA Dedan Maina.

Quickmart projects annual revenue of KSh 58.2 billion and net profit of 2.1 billion in 2026, rising to KSh 67.4 billion and net profit of KSh 2.9 billion in 2027.