(via Outstanding African Entrepreneurs: Vimal Shah - Ventures Africa)
Bidco’s CEO, Vimal Shah is one of Kenya’s most successful entrepreneurs. Shah has built one of the regions biggest manufacturer of edible oils and fats taking multinationals like Unilever head on, in East and Central Africa.
His company, Bidco Oil Refineries, manufacturers edible oil brands like Elianto and Golden Fry, cooking fats including Kimbo, laundry soaps, margarine, baking powder, and hygiene products. The firms oil refinery in Thika town, outside Nairobi produces 1,000 tonnes of cooking oil daily.
The Bidco Group under the leadership of Shah has established itself as a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of edible oils, fats and hygienic products in East Africa.
Shah’s father, Bhimji Depar, started the company in 1970 as a small clothing manufacturing unit. Shah is however credited for transforming Bidco from a small unknown company to one that can today hold its own in the face of foreign multinationals. Bidco after all, distributes its products to over 16 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.
And Shah still has ambitions.
