Bidco Africa Group has acquired a breakfast cereals and snacks manufacturer, marking the latest deal that increases the products of the firm that started in 1985 as a soap-maker and now also produces cooking oil.
The firm announced on Tuesday that it has acquired the assets and brands of Groupaco Holdings Ltd (GHL), including Fillows, Shapies, Elbbin, and Nibble.
The deal marks Bidco’s entry into the breakfast cereals and snacks market.
The company said integrating GHL’s brands into its expansive manufacturing and distribution network will allow for additional investment in production and supply chain efficiencies to reach more customers.
“We are excited to welcome GHL's brands into the Bidco family,” said Vimal Shah, executive chairman of Bidco.
“These brands align perfectly with our mission to provide high-quality, locally produced food products to consumers across the region. We look forward to scaling them further and delivering even more innovation and value to our customers.”
The deal comes barely seven months after Bidco’s joint venture, Bidcoro Africa Limited, received approval to fully acquire Suntory Beverage & Food Kenya Limited—the company behind Ribena and Lucozade brands.
Bidcoro Africa is a partnership between Bidco and Co-Ro Food— a soft drinks manufacturer based in Denmark. The partnership was formed to develop and deliver quality beverage products in the East African market.
The latest deal deepens the range of products under Bidco, which in 2018 launched a beverages plant.
“This is a major milestone for our brands. We are proud of what our team has built, and we are confident that under Bidco’s leadership, our brands will continue to grow, flourish, and reach new heights,” said Ahsan Manji, chief executive of GHL.
Started in 1985 as a soap manufacturing plant in Nairobi, Bidco has grown into one of East Africa’s largest manufacturers of fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) including edible oils and fats, hygiene and personal care and food and beverage brands.
Bidco supplies its goods to over 17 African countries in Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Zambia, Malawi, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Zanzibar and Somalia.
