Beiersdorf expands presence in East Africa with new Nairobi office

KENYA – Beiersdorf, the German multinational personal-care company, has strengthened its commitment to the East African market by opening a new corporate office in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The launch aligns with the company’s broader strategy of enhancing its global footprint and reinforcing its regional operations.

Mathieu Levasseur, General Manager for Central, East, and West Africa at Beiersdorf, stated, “Today is an important day because our office in Nairobi is being reopened.”

“The decision was completely driven by the need for a contemporary flexible workspace that would boost productivity and collaboration.”

Beiersdorf’s journey in East Africa began in 1982 with the introduction of its flagship brand, NIVEA. 

The company established a production center on Lunga Lunga Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area to support its expanding market and ensure a steady supply of its products across the region.

Beyond Kenya, Beiersdorf has a strong presence across Africa, with offices and production facilities in Egypt, Angola, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Senegal. The company continues to cater to the diverse skincare needs of African consumers.

 In line with its expansion efforts, Beiersdorf recently introduced the NIVEA Radiant & Beauty body lotion range in Côte d’Ivoire, formulated explicitly for melanin-rich skin.

On a global scale, Beiersdorf has expanded its operations across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and Australia. 

The company has also been making significant investments in research and innovation, including developing new headquarters and research centers to boost product development.

In FY24, the company reported record sales of €9.9 billion (USD 10 billion), reflecting 6.5% organic growth. 

Despite significant brand investments, operating profit (EBIT, excluding unique factors) rose to €1.4 billion (USD 1.5 billion), improving the EBIT margin to 13.9% (up from 13.4% in 2023).

The Consumer Business segment remained the primary growth driver, achieving €8.2 billion (USD 8.7 billion) in sales, with a 7.5% organic increase. 

The most substantial growth was recorded in Africa, Asia, and Australia (A/A/A), which grew by 11.3%, followed by the Americas (7%) and Europe (5.3%).

NIVEA continued to dominate the skincare market, delivering 9.0% organic growth in 2024 and sales reaching €5.6 billion (USD 5.9 billion). 

This success was driven by higher sales volumes, effective pricing strategies, and strong performance across all major regions.

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