Thika Town in Kiambu County birthed one of the most accomplished business ventures in the UK, Cofresh Snack Foods, a manufacturer of savoury Indian snacks.
The company which is based in Leicester was established by Dineshbhai Patel and his wife Savitaben who risked their entire savings to fill the demand gap for quality snacks starting from Thika.
The couple first established the snacks venture in 1965. They hawked the snacks which included potato crisps to shops and cinemas in Nairobi.
The snacks venture gained prominence and earned the couple significant profits helping them to relocate to the UK.
While at Leicester, Patel and Savitaben took another risk by channeling all their earnings from Kenya into starting a fish and chips shop.
Satisfied by the reception and demand in the UK, the couple who had moved out from Thika, set up a manufacturing hub in their own house.
With little space in their house, they sacrificed everything and started making traditional handmade spicy peanuts and green peas.
The traditional handmade spicy peanuts packed in small pouches became popular with customers and retailers alike.
Driven by determination and desire to expand, they consistently met customers’ demands. Their zeal helped them build a business trust that retained existing customers and attracted others across the globe.
Peanuts and green peas catapulted them into establishing a multi-million-pound brand, making Cofresh a global supplier. The branding pushed their products to cross to over 60 countries.
Their home became small forcing them to try out lending another space to meet the increased demands for snacks.
According to numerous reports in Leicester, the company ran for over 50 years under family ownership with Patel and his wife Savitaben bringing their children on board.
Their children spearheaded the expansion mission which led to the creation of over 250 jobs in Leicester where the company was based.
In 2020, Patel allowed private equity to acquire the company. They, however, supported its operations, including visiting and giving the new managers advice to run the company.
However, on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Patel passed on leaving behind a rich legacy in the food manufacturing sector both in Kenya and the UK.
