On every Kenyan supermarket, wholesale, retail shop and
Kiosks is a BIDCO product.
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| BIDCO AFRICA LOGO |
Having made his way
to the manufacturing industry in 1985 after setting up a small soap
manufacturing business, Vimal Shah had a hard time to sell his product to
Kenyan shops since they were unfamiliar with it. But he did not give up vimal
Shah was determined and delivered his product to shopkeepers and would only be
paid after they sold their products.
 | |
| VIMAL SHAH |
It was not an easy task it can be
described as a Kenyan story of David and Goliath . Unilever was a well-established
company that was enjoying monopolistic joy at the time BIDCO made its debut. All
Kenyan households used Unilever products and we well trusted despite of their
prices. Those who were privileged and could afford margarine at that time can
give an account of when Blueband was blueband. Shah however took the risk and
injected a new brand of products into the society that was only dominated by
one brand. He first began with soap manufacturing before later on venturing
into oil manufacturing in 1991.
Having pursued a Bachelor in
Business Adminstration and Finance Shah had an added advantage in running the
company. Mr Mwangulu describes Shah as a man of wits and Charisma. He was tough
and called all unit managers and would give them targets which seemed
impossible to achieve but they surely achieved them. He created self-esteem and
self trust among individuals. This went on until later 1998 and its fruits
yielded after he was able to successfully acquire Unga Limited’s long time trusted product Elianto Oil. Mr.
Mwangulu says Shah described this as only the beginning and with no doubt his
presence was now felt and was about to take root.
In the turn of a new century the
BIDCO genius Shah came up with a new idea that was to bring a change and take
over the manufacturing industry from their predecessors who had reigned for the
better part of the previous century.
Mr. Mwangulu says Shah came up with
a brain triggering idea that led to the rise of BIDCO. He ordered for a regular
board meetings and in each board meeting the board members were supposed to
come up with an idea that would market BIDCO out of more than ten board members
each of them was required to have a unique idea and you could not repeat or
rephrase what the another member had suggested this ideas would then be
discussed polished and implemented. This trend went on for years and like a
phoenix BIDCO rose. Evidently seen in 2002 when they acquired Unilever’s
leading brands Kimbo and Cowboy into their stable.
In 2005 the group expanded and opened
BIDCO Uganda limited complex in Jinja Uganda.
Mr. Mwangulu describes BIDCO as
Vimal Shah’s brains and as long as he is in there the company will continue to
expand.
If you liked our todays article don’t
forget to like the post and leave a comment join us tomorrow as we reveal an interesting
story of who set up PLO Lumumba when he was the EACC boss.
Till next time Adios
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