Apr 8, 2019
A lot has been written about “the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid.” Add to that the alluring prospects of Africa's population that are set to double by 2050. So theoretically, you have a cocktail of great potential on the African continent.
However, Africa has remained the stepchild of global business, and whether it is real or perceived - the risk of doing business in Africa, still often overshadows the African investment decision.
Riël Malan talks to a real-life example of a business that is thriving in Africa - and even more encouraging, it is thriving in Africa North of the Limpopo River.
Vimal Shah co-founded BIDCO Africa in Kenya in 1985 with his father BD Shah, and brother Tarun Shah - as diversification for their small clothing & cotton manufacturing business at the time. The company has grown spectacularly from its modest beginnings to now having manufacturing operations in 4 countries, for the more than 40 brands that they distribute in 17 African countries. These brands run across six product categories, namely: animal feeds, fats and edible oils, baking products, food and beverages, detergents and laundry soaps, hygiene, personal care and beauty products
The group has set an audacious goal to be the number 1 FMCG company on the African continent by 2030. It now employs over 25 000 people and is still privately held by the Shah family.