Building bridges through trade: welcoming Kenyan women growers and exporters to MWW

We had the pleasure of hosting a group of incredible women growers and exporters from Kenya, as part of a UK trade mission delivered through the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades initiative alongside the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

The visit brought together established producers and exporters who are already trading internationally and are now focused on expanding their exports and accessing new market opportunities. The mission provided a valuable opportunity for open, informed discussions around the realities of supplying the UK market, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with scaling up and diversifying export routes.

We gave them a guided tour around our factory so they could see first-hand how we handle and prepare fresh produce ready for the UK market. It was an opportunity for us to join the dots between where our food comes from and where it ends up, and to share the real behind-the-scenes stuff with people who understand how challenging it can be to meet retail demands.

Gaining real insights

A highlight of the visit was the opportunity to have honest conversations about what it’s really like working in the UK fresh produce sector. We looked at ways we can resolve multiple issues, from changing customer expectations to the pressure points we all face in the supply chain, especially at certain times of the year.

These women are already progressing in exporting produce such as coffee, dried fruit and other products to Europe and beyond from the African continent. Because of this, we could have frank discussions about quality, compliance, traceability and the growing need for added value in an increasingly crowded market.

It was one of those rare opportunities where everyone came away having learned something new. The level of knowledge on both sides made for some really refreshing and forward-thinking conversations. It also gave us a lot to think about for 2026.

Supporting women in global trade

The visit was part of the ITC SheTrades’ mission to help women entrepreneurs access global markets and build sustainable businesses. At MWW, we’re thrilled to support initiatives like this that enable us to focus on building genuine, long-term partnerships.

Parveen Mehta, Executive Director at MWW, said:

“We were genuinely impressed by these women and their ambition. It’s so important to make space for open conversations like this. When we share what we know with each other, we build stronger, more sustainable trading relationships, and that’s something we’re always proud to be part of.”

Doing business, the right way

MWW is a family-run business with over 50 years’ experience in the fresh produce sector, so we know first-hand how much trust, transparency and long-term relationships matter. This visit was the perfect chance to remind us that when like-minded businesses come together, we can make a real difference to people, across global supply chains.

We want to thank everyone who made this visit happen from our team, the SheTrades organisers, and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and ultimately to the Kenyan women growers and exporters.

As these entrepreneurs continue growing their presence in the UK and European markets, we’re excited to stay in touch, support each other, and work together to build fairer, more sustainable and inclusive trade networks for 2026 and beyond.