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Next steps for Laki Laki, Kenya’s dairy drink

Remember the Laki Laki project we featured some time ago? Producing a Kenyan dairy drink with the cow milk from an orphanage in Thika, Joost Timpers has now taken Laki Laki one step further!

The dream of becoming a ‘CSR dairy producer’ with a tasty, healthy and locally produced milk product is still very much alive, Joost tells us. “Buying milk from the orphanage farm in Thika, processing it in a small dairy factory and selling it to tourists in Kenya’s hotels and safari lodges is a wonderful idea.” With the help of volunteers of his African Friends Foundation, Joost Timpers (a freelance management consultant in The Netherlands) has made some important progress. “We analysed the market for our product and discovered a lot of enthusiasm for Laki Laki among hotels and safari lodges in Kenya.”

Production

Production was another issue. Since local dairy producers showed no interest in participating, Joost was forced to explore the possibilities of setting up his own factory. “A huge enterprise, both in cost as well as in terms of expertise. Luckily I found a Dutch dairy producer – De Zuivelhoeve – who wants to support sourcing the machines and setting up the factory near the orphanage in Thika, 40 kilometres north of Nairobi. The effort, hours and expertise De Zuivelhoeve is prepared to put in is extremely valuable to us.”

Lucky break

Joost and his African Friends had another lucky break. “We met another dairy expert in the process of setting up a similar dairy factory. He is exploring the possibility to produce Laki Laki for us. We now face an important choice: do we join forces with an existing project – some 30 kilometres away from the orphanage – or do we want to be independent and build our own factory?”

Speaking of the raw materials for Laki Laki: production at the orphanage has gone up to about 120 litres per day. “It will be scaled up to 200 to 300 litres of the required 500. If necessary, more milk can be sourced from farmers in the Thika region.”

Everything looks ready to take the next step for Joost and his African Friends. “We’re all set for the next step. We are launching an investment campaign in December to attract the necessary funding. We advise anybody who wants to help out financially to check our website for details.”

Crucial months

Joost is very much aware that the next months will be crucial. Publicity is all important to attract investors. But he’s doing a pretty good job considering the attention he will be getting through a Dutch TV show on entrepreneurship that will be broadcast in January 2012. Joost: “I hope the TV show, including footage from our Laki Laki preparations, will attract investors.”