Lenders had the opportunity to engage with ECOM’s chairman, Pepe Esteve, who participated in the full program, as well as with ECOM CFO Pierre Bounameaux, members from the Treasury and Corporate Finance Team, and Sustainability and Climate senior leaders. In addition, lenders were able to connect with East Africa Coffee Leadership team including Jeremy Block, Rozy Rana, Robert Whitwam, Kamau Kuria and Catherine N’ganga. 

By inviting its key financing partners to experience ECOM’s operations firsthand and engage directly with our teams on the ground, ECOM aimed to reinforce the strong, long-term partnerships it is building with them. 

This was followed by a field immersion experience which began at Mchana Farm, where participants saw firsthand how coffee is cultivated, harvested, and processed, gaining an appreciation for the care and expertise required at every stage of production. 

The group then travelled to Cosato Coffee Mill in Karatina, where they observed the dry milling process and learned how coffee is graded.

The visit also included a stop at Mutira Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Kagumo, where guests engaged directly with farmers who were delivering their coffee cherries to the cooperative.

These interactions provided valuable insight into the realities of coffee production and highlighted the strong relationships Dormans has built at origin through its commitment to quality, traceability, and sustainable sourcing. 

To wrap up the hand-on experience in the field, the trip ended with a series of presentations covering ECOM’s East Africa operations, an update on ECOM’s Sustainability and climate strategy and initiatives, as well an update on the Group’s financial performance and discussion of key achievements between ECOM and the Lenders. These sessions provided valuable context to the on-the-ground experiences. 

The visit also provided an opportunity for Dormans to reinforce its role as a key origin platform within ECOM, demonstrating the expertise of its teams, strong producer partnerships, and the collaborative efforts that underpin Dormans commitment to quality, transparency, sustainability, and long-term value creation across the coffee value chain. 

To cap a week of learning, collaboration, and relationship building, the group visited the iconic Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where they experienced Kenya’s remarkable wildlife and rich natural heritage, providing a memorable conclusion to the visit.

It was a great pleasure for Dormans to host ECOM’s lending partners and showcase the excellence of Kenya’s coffee sector. 

ECOM’s management and finance team are very grateful for the warm welcome extended to our visitors and for the excellent overall organisation of the visit. A special thank you to the amazing Dormans team, and in particular Eva Mutua and Monica Mungai!