Unga Group has announced the appointment of Mr Joseph Malel Choge as the incoming managing director of the group following the retirement of Mr Nicholas Hutchison effective 31st December 2021.
Joseph Choge is a senior executive with years of experience within manufacturing, telecoms, banking, insurance and Finance. Joseph has graduated from the University of Nairobi with a degree in mathematics and later on a Master’s degree in International Management.
Previously, Joseph Choge served as Chief Executive Officer of Premier Food Limited (Peptang) where he made significant contributions to the company.
Nicholas Hutchison has served as a managing director in Unga Group for more than 20years, however, following the end of his term, he will serve in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition
Recently, Unga Group had announced plans to exit the baking business for the second time with the sale of Ennsvalley Bakery to a logistics company, just a decade after it acquired it in a bid to cut costs and improve efficiency.
The sale of the bakery business comes at a time when bakers are struggling with the high cost of production amid low demand for bread due to reduced purchasing power by consumers as a result of decreased income. The cost of wheat at the international market, where Kenya acquires over 75 % of its annual needs, has gone up by nearly 30 %, prompting a price rally on the price of bread.
The company has been grappling with competition in the baking business from firms like mini bakeries, retail chains like Naivas and Quickmart as well as established bakers like Broadways, whose cost of bread is lower when compared with Ennsvalley high-end variety.
The group has thanked Mr Nicholas Hutchison for his contribution and commitment to the company for the last couple of years wishing him the best in his retirement.
Read also; Unga Group to Sell Ennsvalley Bakery to BigCold Kenya in Move to Cut Cost.
