Bidco Africa Group has expanded its product lineup by acquiring a company specializing in breakfast cereals and snacks.

Bidco began operations as a soap manufacturer in 1985, before venturing into cooking oil production. The firm has now expanded its operations into the breakfast cereals and snacks market.

On Tuesday, Bidco said it had bought the assets and brands of Groupco Holdings Ltd (GHL), adding well-known products like Fillows, Shapies, Elbbin, and Nibble to its range of products.

Bidco seeks to improve the efficiency of the production and supply of GHL’s products by capitalizing on its vast manufacturing and distribution network.

“We are happy to welcome GHL’s brands into the Bidco family,” said Vimah Shah, executive chairman of Bidco.

“These brands fit well with our goal of offering quality, locally made food products to people in the region. We are excited to grow them further and bring more new ideas and benefits to our customers.”

As part of the acquisition, Bidco has taken over GHL’s financial responsibilities and assets, including book debts, cash reserves, business contracts, liabilities, taxes and any other assets linked to breakfast cereal and snack production.

This deal comes hot on the heels of another major acquisition. Just seven months ago, Bidco Africa Limited got approval for the full acquisition of Suntory Beverage and Food Kenya Limited, the company behind Ribena and Lucozade.

Bidcoro Africa, a partnership between Bidco and Danish soft drink manufacturer Co-Ro Food, was formed to develop and distribute quality beverages in the East African market.

Their recent expansion move shows Bidco’s continued ambition for portfolio growth, adding to the beverage manufacturing plant it launched in 2018.

“This is an important step for our brands. We are proud of what our team has created, and we believe that with Bidco’s leadership, our brands will keep growing, improving, and reaching new levels,” said Ahsan Manji, the CEO of GHL.

What started as a small soap production business in Nairobi has grown into one of East Africa’s largest manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs). Today, Bidco produces everything from edible oils and personal care products to food and beverages.

The company has supply chain operations across 17 countries in Africa. They including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Zambia, Malawi, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Zanzibar and Somalia.