Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark - SONDHI

By CommonShare

Sondhi Trading Limited (STL) is a prominent player in the East African coffee export industry, established in 1996 as a subsidiary of Mbaraki Port Warehouses (MPW). With a strong foundation in logistics services dating back to 1964, STL has grown to become a top ten ranked exporter of Kenya coffee. As one of the few privately owned coffee exporters in Kenya, STL holds a significant position in the market, supplying high-quality coffee to customers worldwide.

Specializing in the export of East African coffees, STL's key differentiator lies in its strategic alliance with MPW, which grants it a logistical advantage over competitors. Operating its own warehouses in the bustling Port of Mombasa, STL is able to meticulously prepare and blend different coffees using cutting-edge processing equipment to meet the stringent demands of its clientele. Moreover, STL boasts certifications in ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, ISO Food Safety Management Systems, UTZ, and Rainforest Alliance, ensuring the highest standards of quality and sustainability in its operations.

Led by Managing Director Jay Sondhi, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of The Kenya Coffee Traders Association, STL has a strong leadership approach focused on industry collaboration and excellence. With a customer base spanning tea-consuming countries in Europe and North America, STL continues to expand its reach and maintain its reputation as a reliable supplier of premium East African coffees. Moving forward, the company's current strategic direction is aimed at further enhancing its logistical capabilities and solidifying its position as a leading exporter in the region.

Overall Rating

1.0

Under-Performing

Traceability

An increasingly important factor in global supply chains, traceability assesses the manufacturer's capability to track products and materials from origin to delivery. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® explores this through the lens of tiered supplier verification, culminating in end-to-end traceability with real-time monitoring and complete transparency.

Digitized Products

The digital landscape has transformed B2B interactions. This facet assesses the extent to which manufacturers have digitized their product offerings. The spectrum ranges from manufacturers without any online product catalog to those boasting advanced B2B e-commerce platforms, providing clients with order customization, real-time tracking, and an integrated view of the supply chain.

Preferred Materials

This aspect gauges the extent to which manufacturers incorporate sustainable, circular, and regenerative materials in their supply chain. It assesses whether companies merely use standard materials or whether they actively prioritize sustainable and preferred materials in their product range, even going so far as to offer digital verification of material certificates.

Facility Verification and Services

This dimension evaluates the openness and commitment of manufacturers regarding their facility's conditions and services. It covers a spectrum, from providing no facility details at all to showcasing comprehensive third-party audits, ensuring transparency in worker welfare and showcasing a clear commitment to maintaining top-tier facility services.

Readiness to Contract

Before entering a partnership, it's pivotal to understand a manufacturer's business legitimacy. The Sustainable Manufacturers Benchmark® checks for the presence and verification of essential documents, ranging from basic business licenses to comprehensive documentation, client testimonials, and even third-party attestations that verify a manufacturer's reliability and readiness to contract.

SONDHI

Kenya

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How our Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark® Works?

By CommonShare

The Responsible Manufacturer Benchmark is a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate and rate manufacturers based on their commitment to sustainability, digital integration, readiness for contracting, material sourcing, and facility standards. It provides a clear, standardized metric for assessing manufacturers in a B2B environment, helping businesses make informed decisions aligned with their sustainability objectives. The benchmark covers crucial areas like end-to-end traceability, the digital verification of supply tiers, utilization of preferred materials, and verified social audits for facilities. By incorporating both depth and granularity across its criteria, the benchmark not only promotes transparency but also encourages continuous improvement in responsible manufacturing practices.