Bidco Africa scales up Thika detergent facility to drive growth
The expansion reinforces its status as a leading manufacturer across Africa.
KENYA – Bidco Africa, a Kenyan multinational consumer goods company, has expanded its detergent manufacturing facility at its Thika headquarters, marking a strategic move to drive its East African expansion.
The original plant, commissioned earlier with a KES 2 billion investment, was designed to produce about 3,000 tonnes of detergent monthly and was a cornerstone of Bidco’s Sh200 billion group expansion plan.
The recent expansion focuses on upgrading and scaling up existing infrastructure, enhancing production capacity, and integrating advanced, environmentally friendly technologies to meet rising regional demand for cleaning products.
This expansion enables Bidco to strengthen its position in the East African FMCG market, improve supply chain efficiency, and reduce reliance on imports.
The Thika facility continues to create local jobs and supports Bidco’s broader vision of sustainable growth, innovation, and regional leadership.
The company’s expansion efforts align with its ambition to grow revenue, diversify its product portfolio, and reinforce its status as a leading manufacturer across 18 African countries, serving millions of consumers with trusted, locally produced detergents and personal care products.
Bidco Africa’s hygiene and personal care product range includes baby wipes, pant-style diapers, various soaps, including laundry bar soaps and natural soap flakes, liquid detergents, fabric softeners and conditioners, and dishwashing liquids.
Their Gental Care line features products designed for fabric care and personal cleanliness, emphasizing gentle yet effective formulas.
The range caters to household cleaning, personal hygiene, and baby care needs, offering trusted, locally made solutions for everyday use.
Bidco Africa, headquartered in Thika, Kenya, is one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in East Africa.
Founded in the 1970s, the company has grown into a regional industrial powerhouse with a portfolio that spans edible oils, soaps, detergents, juices, noodles, and soft drinks.
It serves more than 100,000 retail outlets daily, providing 4,500 direct jobs and over 11,000 indirect jobs.
Beyond its consumer products, Bidco has been a key driver of Kenya’s agricultural value chains, sourcing sunflowers and soybeans from thousands of farmers.
The company has also invested heavily in industrial expansion and sustainability, including bioenergy projects, water recycling, and climate-friendly environmental solutions.
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