Dairyland blacklish, a striking black peppermint chocolate ice cream.
NAIROBI, Kenya July 2 – Dairyland has thrown down the gauntlet in Kenya’s ice cream market after unveiling Blacklish, a striking black peppermint chocolate ice cream that the company says is designed to stand out rather than compete.
The colourful Wednesday night launch in Nairobi was more than just the unveiling of a new dessert.
It was an evening of bold ideas, entertainment and conversations about innovation, bringing together business leaders, media personalities, digital creators and industry players for what organisers described as a one-of-a-kind experience.
Speaking during the launch, Dairyland Head of Marketing Milan Kabata said Blacklish was created with one goal in mind to break away from the ordinary.
“Blacklish took a lot of effort from the team to build something beautiful. It was born out of the idea of natural colours,” Kabata said.
She insisted the new product is not entering the market to fight existing brands.
“We are not trying to compete with anybody. We want to create a path of our own. We chose to create a category of our own. Blacklish is about being unique.”
Kabata revealed that the new ice cream combines black peppermint chocolate, saying the unusual colour and flavour reflect the company’s belief that “bold ideas deserve bold expression.”
“It is the perfect blend of heritage and disruption. We want to take our position in the market,” she added.
Founder and Finance Director Sunil Shah said the family business has grown significantly since it was established in 1995, expanding beyond Kenya into Uganda and Tanzania while reaching some of the country’s most remote areas.
“We have grown tremendously over the years thanks to our marketing. Today, our products reach as far as Moyale, Wajir and other parts of northern Kenya,” Shah said.
He praised the marketing and innovation team for daring to take on what he described as one of the company’s most ambitious projects.
“Of all the projects we have done, this is probably the scariest venture we have undertaken. It would not have been possible without my team,” he said.
Founder and Finance Director Sunil Shah
Shah expressed confidence that Blacklish would leave a lasting impression on consumers.
“This is going to be a game changer because it is going to be tasty. Welcome to the dark side of the sweet side,” he said.
The evening also featured an engaging panel discussion on innovation, branding and business transformation, with renowned media personality Caroline Mutoko, entrepreneur Peter Nduati, technology executive Dorothy Ooko, digital strategist Just Ivy and actress Catherine Kamau sharing insights on creativity, leadership and building bold brands.
One of One panelists. From left to right: Media personality Caroline Mutoko, Digital Strategist Just Ivy, Entrepreneur Peter Nduati, Technology Executive Dorothy Ooko, Actress Catherine Kamau and Dairyland Head of Marketing Milan Kabata.
With Blacklish, Dairyland is betting that consumers are ready for something different, an ice cream that is as bold in appearance as it is in flavour, while carving out a category of its own in Kenya’s competitive dessert market.
