1998Launch
SACOMA is established
Registered as a multifaceted organisation dedicated to training and development.
Our journey · 1998 to today
From a small office in Ilford to a global food innovation enterprise
For more than 25 years, SACOMA has trained entrepreneurs, opened markets for African producers, shaped trade policy and built a healthier, lower-carbon food system. This is how we got here.
1998Founded in training and development
4 citiesBusiness incubators in London, Coventry, Brussels and Nairobi
£1.8MTurnover reached by 2006
£1.2MAnnual food innovation turnover
25 yearsCelebrated in 2024
Company timeline
Four chapters, one purpose
We began by helping people build businesses. Along the way we connected farmers to markets, represented them in global trade policy and turned what we learned into food innovation, education and climate action.
01
Foundations
A training and development organisation that grew into an impact enterprise.
2003Launch
Our first business incubator
From a small office in Ilford, SACOMA starts incubating new businesses.
2005Award
Employer of the Year
Recognised by the Learning and Skills Council.
2006Growth
An impact enterprise
SACOMA grows into an impact enterprise with several business branches and a turnover of £1.8 million.
02
Going global
Taking our incubation model abroad and building our first links between African farms and UK markets.
2007Partnership
Post-harvest centre in Kenya
A farmers' post-harvest handling technology and produce centre opens in Kenya, through Netherlands Warehouse Technology Transfers.
2008Launch
SFEDI Business Incubators in four cities
SACOMA SFEDI Business Incubators open in London, Coventry, Brussels and Nairobi.
2009Partnership
Going Global Business Programme
Delivered with the University of East London.
2010Launch
SACOMA Personal Best
A leadership catapult launched in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2011Award
Business of the Year
Winner at the London Chamber of Commerce awards.
2012Launch
SACOMA Fresh Foods at Spitalfields
Our fresh foods import and export business opens at Spitalfields Market, London.
03
Innovation & influence
Food innovation takes centre stage, and SACOMA starts shaping trade policy on the world stage.
2014Partnership
PBP Chemometric Brain, Spain
A joint partnership on Industry 4.0 technology for the food sector.
2015Launch
SACOMA Global Foods Innovation
Our food innovation business is established.
2015Trade & policy
A voice in Geneva
Representation at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Trade Centre (ITC) on trade policy.
2016Partnership
Summer Leadership School
Run with the universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
2017Launch
Kendamil baby cereals launched
A new chapter in infant nutrition for SACOMA.
2017Award
World Food Innovation Awards winner
Best Social Responsibility Initiative for our Kenya sweet potato work, presented at IFE, ExCeL London, recognising innovation and social impact.
2018Award
Commonwealth Export Champion
Selected as a Commonwealth Export Champion (Australia) by HRH Prince Charles, now King Charles III.
2018Trade & policy
Shaping the Kenya Export Strategy
SACOMA contributes to the Kenya Export Strategy, launched by the President of Kenya, with a particular focus on agriculture and agri-food exports.
04
Sustainable food
Healthy food on our own shelves, education for the next generation of food makers, and a net zero food system.
2019Launch
Our first health food shop
A sustainable, organic and natural health and wellbeing shop opens in Dagenham.
2019Launch
Sweet potato crème brûlée
A new product that grew out of our sweet potato journey from Kenyan farms.
2020Trade & policy
Leading on the EPA
SACOMA leads on the Economic Partnership Agreement, helping to shape UK–Africa trade policy.
2020Trade & policy
SACOMA Diplomatic Services
Work in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Somalia.
2020Partnership
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
A KTP with the University of Greenwich.
2023Launch
SACOMA Food School
The Food School and an Insect Bioconversion Research Centre are founded.
2024Milestone
25 years of SACOMA
We celebrate 25 years by launching a Net Zero Food System, alongside new trade and climate projects.
2025Partnership
Smart City initiatives in Korea
Following our Seoul–London Smart City Exchange proof of concept, SACOMA exhibits at Smart Life Week in Seoul.
2026Today
Smart City Food Forum, Seoul
On 7 October 2026 SACOMA leads the Smart City Collaborative Food Forum at COEX during Smart Life Week, putting food at the heart of smart cities.
Where the journey has taken us
A footprint across four continents
Every chapter added new places, partners and people to the SACOMA network.
United Kingdom
Ilford, London, Coventry, Dagenham and Spitalfields. Partners include the universities of East London, Greenwich, Cambridge and Oxford.
Europe
Incubation in Brussels, Industry 4.0 partnership in Spain, and trade policy work with the WTO and ITC in Geneva.
Africa
Nairobi incubator, Kenya post-harvest centre and agricultural input to the Kenya Export Strategy, plus diplomatic and trade work in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Somalia.
Asia-Pacific
Commonwealth Export Champion for Australia, and Smart City food initiatives in Seoul, South Korea.
What the journey built
SACOMA today
Twenty-eight years of experience now go into helping food businesses, farmers and cities grow.
Food School
Courses that take food entrepreneurs from idea to retail-ready product.
Explore courses →Retail Launch Pad
Development, compliance, import and test-selling in our own shops.
Launch with us →Our initiatives
Low-carbon food, sweet potato, clay cooking and smart cities.
See initiatives →Shop health foods
Natural, sustainable health foods for wholesale and retail.
Shop now →Be part of the next chapter
Whether you are a food maker, a farmer, a city or an investor, we would love to hear how we can grow together.