In 2014, Bernard Githuthu Njoroge, a former director at Del Monte Kenya, made a career-altering decision that left many in awe.
He walked away from his high-paying job, with a monthly salary of Sh 1 million, to venture into the local market by reviving the legendary Tree Top juice brand.
At the time, Tree Top had been off supermarket shelves for over 20 years, last seen in Kenyan shops in 1995.
Njoroge’s ambitious plan was to restore the nostalgic juice, which had been a household name in the 1980s and ’90s.
Njoroge, with vast experience in the beverage industry, set up a KSh 500 million juice plant in Juja under his company, Sky Foods Ltd.
He aimed to produce 12 million liters annually, offering five distinct flavors—orange, mango, apple, tropical, and a unique strawberry-banana blend.
The Kenyan government, through the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC), even invested Sh 100 million to support the company’s growth.
Sky Foods provided employment to over 600 Kenyans, giving the business an optimistic outlook.
However, despite the large investment and the nostalgic appeal of Tree Top, the dream began to crumble.
Seven years later, in September 2024, Sky Foods Ltd was declared insolvent, with the High Court appointing an official receiver to take over the company’s affairs. Njoroge’s once-promising venture had collapsed.
In a notice dated September 30, 2024, the appointed administrator revealed that Sky Foods Ltd had been placed under receivership on September 26.
“I, the official receiver, give notice that I have been appointed as administrator of the property of Sky Foods Ltd by the holder of a qualifying floating charge. The appointment is made effective from September 26, 2024, in accordance with the provisions of the Insolvency Act,” read part of the official statement.
The declaration meant that Sky Foods’ assets and affairs were now vested in the administrator, who would oversee the company’s future.
The notice also indicated that no legal actions could be taken against the company without the administrator’s consent, a sign of how dire the situation had become.
