A Common Motto as a Guiding Principle
A motto is more than just a phrase. It is a guiding thought that inspires, provides direction, and connects us. In an international company like LIMBUA, with four production sites in Kenya and hundreds of employees in various departments, it is crucial that we all work towards the same goal. Whether in production, logistics, quality assurance, administration, or the field teams – collaboration is at the heart of our success.
Teamwork is crucial
"The Top”… What does this mean for us as a social business?
For LIMBUA, "The Top" means more than just financial success. It represents the realization of our vision, which has guided us since 2009: to create a sustainable future for the environment, farmers, our employees, and the local communities.
The more successful LIMBUA becomes, the more smallholders we can include in our program, and the bigger our positive impact:
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Improving Living Standards: By offering fair prices above market value and guaranteeing the purchase of their harvests, we provide smallholder farmers with financial security. This allows them to invest in stable homes, support their children's education, and build a secure future.
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Creating Opportunities Locally: Our production sites are deliberately located in the heart of the farmer communities. Over 95% of our 700 employees come from the region, benefiting from secure jobs and improved infrastructure.
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Sustainability through Organic Farming: Through our commitment to organic farming, which focuses on resource conservation and sustainability, we actively contribute to environmental protection. Our organic certifications ensure that we promote biodiversity and respect the natural cycles.
"The Top" means protecting the environment, securing livelihoods, and empowering the Kenyan rural population.
Sustainable agriculture in the Embu region
Increasing Complexity Brings New Challenges
As a Kenyan-German company with four different production sites and several hundred employees in various departments, we face inherent complexities.
On one hand, the geographical distribution requires effective communication to ensure that all departments and locations receive the same information and collaborate closely. On the other hand, there are differences in work processes that arise from local conditions or varying departmental structures.
The diversity of tasks – from product development and quality control to customer service – means that each area comes with its own set of requirements and challenges. This makes it even more important that we foster cross-departmental collaboration and leverage the expertise and knowledge of every employee. Without close integration between teams and locations, such challenges would be difficult to overcome.
A common motto helps remind us that, despite different tasks and locations, we are always working towards the same goal.
You can't do it alone: everyone pulls everyone
The success of our company can only be achieved if we support one another and view each other as internal customers. Cross-departmental and cross-site collaboration is essential. Crossover thinking is a central element: sharing knowledge and ideas, helping each other, and working hand in hand is the key.
This means that every production site, every department, every team, and every individual employee plays a role. Every contribution counts towards our collective success.
Because success that is only driven by one department or group is not sustainable in the long term. "Meet up at the top" reminds us that it’s not about lone wolves, but about the power of community. When we fulfill our vision as a company and also nurture the individual strengths of every employee, we create a win-win situation: satisfied customers worldwide and a motivated, engaged team.