About Bidco
Bidco Africa is East Africa’s leading manufacturer of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Started in 1985 as a soap manufacturing plant in Nairobi, Bidco has continuously grown over the years to be the home of some of East Africa’s most loved brands across the edible oils & fats, Hygiene and Personal care and most recently Food and Beverage brands.
The Choice on the Shelves
With currently over 50 brands, Bidco Africa has grown to not only serve consumers’ needs in the Edible Oils & Fats, Hygiene and Personal Care category but has most recently set foot in the Food and Beverages category producing Noodles, Juices and Carbonated Soft Drinks.
Why Bidco Exists
To serve daily consumer needs and enhance Happy Healthy Living by Branding, Transforming and Distributing the goodness of Mother Nature.
Bidco’s Goal (BHAG) 2030
To Grab, Grow and Sustain No. 1 Market Share in African Markets.
Our Goal
To Grab, Grow and Sustain No. 1 market share in the African markets by 2030. We are determined to achieve this through conventional marketing and enhancing the everyday experiences of our customers.
Our People
Will seek opportunities and overcome challenges ethically and strive to make them a reality. All our people value Integrity and uphold it ruthlessly building trust leading to empowerment.
Our Organization
Is committed to continual renewal so that our people, structures, products, facilities, systems and partnerships remain dynamic.
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Our Values
Our products, processes and services will always reflect:
– Our customers’ needs
– Excellence
– Quality with a price advantage
– Environmental friendliness
– Welfare to the community -
Happy Healthy Living
This is why we exist; why we work; why we produce; why we sell and why we are a family. This is both our inspiration and aspiration; it is our DNA and number one operating procedure.
All our operations, actions, words and values spring from the idea of Happy Healthy Living. This is our true value.
Our ethos informs our attitude; our approach to work and to each other. We will be positive and passionate just want to be happy and healthy.
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Our Vision
Bidco Africa will be the 1st African born, Africa based transnational, enjoying loyalty of the consumer community. Our products will touch common people in a special way. On a daily basis, we will impact our community and environment positively and grow sustainably and inclusively.
Our Mission
Bidco’s mission is to offer happy, healthy living and a natural, wholesome lifestyle to all our consumers via health-preserving and life-enhancing products.
The Innovation that Empowers
Bidco Africa is creative and innovative. Bidco has gone before others on the road less travelled. Bidco was the first company in East Africa to adopt ISO standards, ensuring we give the consumers world class products.
Bidco is also a Kaizen/Lean Management practicing organization which means there is always a better way of doing things. We continuously renew our processes, structures, products, systems and partnerships to keep our organization dynamic. With Kaizen, we are always improving, never satisfied, always arriving, never arrived and this also means we are open to change all the time – as long as it adds value to the customer.
The Link of Generations
Bido Africa is born of a strong legacy and a rich heritage. Founded by Bhimji Depar Shah and his two sons – Tarun Bhimji Shah and Vimal Bhimji Shah, it is a story of humble beginnings, big dreams and a far-reaching vision. It is the story of the founders coming together to create, grow and transform a humble family business into a regional agro-based juggernaut.
The Bidco story is of generations of Kenyans, East Africans and Africans who have grown on Happy Healthy Living products and for whom Bidco Africa is a part of their story.
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Bhimji Depar Shah is the founder of Bidco Group. Born in Mombasa, he is a fourth generation Kenyan.
Shah lacked a college education as he started his career at the tender age of 15. This would have been detrimental to many people’s chances of a successful career. However, Shah made the most of every job opportunity he got, and learned from his various experiences—including owning a petrol station in Nyeri. He has worked in logistics, downstream oil & gas, clothing, retail and wholesale trading, manufacturing and even farming. All these experiences—which add up to over 65 years—have helped shape him into one of the most capable and most ambitious businessmen in the world.
With help from his two sons, Tarun Shah and Vimal Shah, BD has turned Bidco from a simple business into a regional juggernaut. Even today, Shah’s passion for Bidco is still unmatched. He supervises numerous processes within the organization and manages the executive recruitment processes.
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Tarun B Shah is a qualified chartered certified accountant. After completing his education in the UK, he launched his career at the age of 21.
On a green field in the early 80s, Tarun spearheaded research and development of a Thika-based manufacturing plant, which would make edible oils and fats, baking powder and soaps. His insightfulness has made him a technical and commercial specialist. He is the go-to person when it comes to insight and guidance on the expansion of Bidco’s interests.
He has also created both front-end and back-end value propositions for various East African and even global industries. He has enabled Bidco to have an impressive array of partnerships with logistics enterprises, packaging material suppliers, chemical suppliers, channel partners, hubs, supermarket chains, suppliers of equipment and more.
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Vimal Shah is one of Kenya and East Africa’s eminent and most respected business leaders. Together with his father and brother, Mr. Shah has transformed Bidco from a humble soap manufacturing enterprise into a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) behemoth. Bidco is presently East Africa’s leading manufacturer of edible oils and hygiene and personal care products with over 40 brands and a footprint in 18 African countries.
Vimal holds a BSc.Business Administration from United States International University – Africa.
Vimal Shah holds many public offices. He is a member of the 3GF (Global Green Growth Fund) Advisory Board and the Tony Elumelu Foundation Advisory Board. Until April 2015, he was the Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance-the apex private sector body in Kenya, and is a former Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the East African Business Council.
He is a recipient of multiple awards and accolades. Vimal was the 2012 recipient of the East African Entrepreneur of the Year award awarded by All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in partnership with CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa. In recognition of his contribution to national development, Former President Mwai Kibaki awarded him the ‘First Class: Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) in December 2011-the highest national honour for a private citizen in Kenya.
In 2008, the Kenya Institute of Management awarded him the CEO of the Year award with BIDCO winning the Company of the year award. He was rankedthe 3rd East Africa Business Leader of the Future and 5th Most Respected Chief Executive Officer in East Africa in 2002. He was named the Professional Manager of the Year 2001 and winner for Outstanding Executive support for IT in 2001.
In 2015, KCA University awarded him an honorary PhD for his contribution to the growth of entrepreneurship in Kenya. Also in 2015 he was named Oshwal Entrepreneur of the Year in the first ever Oshwal Awards.
In May 2016, Mr. Shah was installed as the chancellor for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
Under his leadership Bidco has received over 30 corporate awards in 15 years across various domains: energy management, business leadership, ICT and manufacturing.
Shareholders
The Bidco Environment
- Our products, processes and services will always reflect:
- We believe there is always a better way
- Bidco Africa is a place where ideas win
- At Bidco Africa, people flourish and grow
- We uphold respect for the individual
- At Bidco Africa, the excitement of our employees work life is transferred to their whole Family
Partnerships that Thrive
Bidco Africa has multiple joint ventures it has explored in its journey of success. We have gotten into partnerships with Co-Ro of Denmark, Land O’Lakes from America and Wilmar International.
Global Awards
We stand tall as a formidable industry leader and world-class African champion. Integrity and sustainability are the foundation of our corporate mission.