Bidco Africa Group a very accomplished maker of consumer goods, has opened a 20 billion Kenyan Shillings ultra modern industrial park in Kiambu and already has plans to expand its manufacturing footprint with another plant in Nakuru.
The new industrial park, also comes with a 66 kilovolt power station already installed, to supply 7.5 megawatts of electricity to the factory.
President Uhuru Kenyatta who presided over the unveiling of the business complex on Thursday the 25th of July 2019, noted that the new factory has already created 1,000 direct jobs as well as 5,000 indirect jobs throughout the Bidco distribution chain.
The complex will host the company’s beverage and food processing factory.
The Bidco Africa Group, has agreements with 35,000 farmers across the country to supply them with soya and sunflower produce.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said about the development that, “This, in essence is what we are trying to achieve as a nation, a manufacturing sector that links with other productive sectors of the economy.”
The complex, which sits on part of an 80 acre parcel of industrial land within Tatu City, comprises of a 550,000 litres per day effluent treatment plant as well as a 90,000 litres per hour water filtration facility.
Chairman of Bidco Africa Group; Vimal Shah stated that the new factory and machinery is expected to add to the total turnover and product range.
Mr. Vimal Shah added that, “Our basket to the market shall therefore become bigger, which means there shall be significant employment creation as well as benefit to Kenyans in general.”
The unveiling of the plant comes just days after Bidco Africa Group revealed that their chief executive officer; Thiagarajan Ramamurthy had retired.
Mr. Ramamurthy who is also the former chief executive officer of Nakumatt left Bidco just two years after taking up the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Mr. Thiagarajan Ramamurthy took over as the CEO of Bidco Africa Group in April 2017. This was the first time that the Shahs who own the consumer goods manufacturer let a non family member attain the leadership position.
Before Ramamurthy’s appointment at Bidco Africa Group, Vimal Shah’s father and founder of the company, Bhimji Depar Shah, served as the chairman of the company.
