Building a clean cooking business in Kenya

Smokeless Kitchen was created to help women in rural Kenya move from smoky charcoal to clean gas cooking. The challenge was making the solution affordable and practical in remote areas.

Design 86 joined the project in the early research and development stage. We led the research, product development, branding and implementation from the first prototypes through market testing and launch.

We visited homes, farms and markets in distant parts of Kenya. We observed food preparation, hygiene and the role of women in rural households. We also conducted interviews and product testing with local customers.

The research led to a different approach. Instead of treating clean cooking as a product to distribute, we developed a business model around it. Women use gas stoves to produce preserved food for the local market. The income helps cover the cost of clean cooking. Home canning allows food to be produced without refrigeration and transported from distant rural areas to cities, where it can be sold at a higher price.

Design 86 developed the products and production system. We tested recipes, ingredients, packaging and pricing. We developed illustrated manuals covering hygiene, home canning, pressure cooking, safe food preparation and basic business practices. The production system was designed to be taught in community spaces and repeated in local kitchens using tools available in the Kenyan market.

We tested the products through organized tastings, farmers markets and retail stands at Nairobi supermarkets. We also developed an online store with M-Pesa payments. The research shaped the product range and positioning. Ketchup was selected because of a gap in the market and local interest in Western food. Jams use fruits from local farms.

The brand strategy followed the same research. Rather than compete with cheap mass market products, we positioned Smokeless Kitchen as a locally made premium food brand. Quality ingredients, novelty, packaging and the social mission helped justify a higher price and support local production.

Design 86 created the name, logo, identity, illustrations, packaging, product photography, website, ecommerce experience, retail materials and promotional campaigns. The identity uses bold colors, expressive typography and illustrated Kenyan women. The illustrations grew out of the earlier training materials and became the foundation of the visual identity.

We designed a portable retail stand that was locally manufactured and assembled. We also created product photography, social media campaigns, seasonal promotions and directed the promotional video for Smokeless Kitchen ketchup.

The result is a food business built around clean cooking. Instead of designing yet another clean cooking stove that only partially solves the problem, Design 86 helped develop a model where the clean kitchen becomes a productive asset. The food business generates income for women and helps make clean cooking possible.