Bidco Africa is a leading manufacturer of fast moving consumer goods. The award winning company is the first in East Africa to establish a fully operational refinery. The company was started by Bhimji Depar Shah who has for years been listed by various publications among the top 10 Kenyan billionaires with his wealth in the past being valued at $750 million.
He is the founder of Bidco Africa, a company that started as a garments manufacturer and has since morphed into a large conglomerate with a presence in more than 10 African countries.
Early employment
Born in Cairo, Egypt, he moved to Kenya and settled in Nyeri where it is reported that he opened a petrol station at the age of 15. His father was a dhow trader.
Setting up Bidco Industries
He set up Bidco Industries in 1970 with the purpose of manufacturing garments. The company then ventured into the manufacture of soap in 1985 and in 1991 ventured into the production of edible oils. Currently they produce a number of products from beauty soaps, detergents, baking powder to cooking oil.
Notable products
Their notable brands include:
Soaps and detergents: white star, Msafi, gentle care, Bidco cream, Nuru, Germonil Toilet Cleaner, and tiger.
Oils and cooking fat: cowboy, bahari fry, elianto corn oil, ufuta cooking oil, golden fry cooking oil, olive gold blend oil, kimbo and sungold sunflower oil.
Animal Feeds: standard dairy feed, calf weaner meal, ordinary broiler starter mash, pig finishing meal and sow and weaner meal among others
Baking products: mariandazi baking powder and veebol pastry margarine.
In 2015, it was reportedly the leading fats and edible oils manufacturer and controlled 24% of the market on Kenya. It has also been named among the top 5 most admired brands in Kenya.
With the help of his two sons, Tarun and Vimal Shah the business has established itself as a leading Kenyan manufacturer. Vimal serves as the chairman of Bidco Africa and Tarun is the director at Bidco Oil Refineries Ltd.
