Vimal Shah

Chairman - Bidco Africa

Vimal Shah is the Chairman of Bidco Africa, East Africa’s leading manufacturer of Edible Oils, Hygiene and Personal Care products, and Food & Beverages. Bidco has over 60 brands and a footprint in 18 African countries.

He is a distinguished global leader who is making an impactful difference in all fronts. A believer in the growth and a robust economic potential in Africa and its people. Vimal is passionate about Entrepreneurship and believes, living the true spirit, that it is the strong pillar that will move an Economic Africa forward.
Born in Kenya in 1960, Vimal went through his education in Kenya, going ahead to acquire an Accounting and Finance – Business Administration degree from United States International University – Africa, Nairobi Campus, that set the pace for his interest in Entrepreneurship. With a short-lived career in Insurance, Vimal’s aggression and enterprising spirit steered him to taking a bold move to set up a new direction for the family-owned business in textile manufacturing.
Backed by a well-researched strategy, business was shaky and Vimal, coming together with his father B. D. Shah (whose name coined up the name BIDCO) and his elder brother Tarun Shah, moved to set foot in soap manufacturing in 1985 – founding BIDCO. The humble beginning in a small business unit was able to wade through raging waters of competition, tough economic times and uncertain sources of capital for expansion to become one of the leading consumer goods manufacturers in East Africa today.

Under their leadership, they led the strategic growth and expansion that saw entry into Uganda, Tanzania and Madagascar with manufacturing units to serve the markets. Vimal has also been in the frontline to crafting multiple winning partnerships – one of the key pillars that has set Bidco apart from its peers. The partnerships include joint ventures with leading global brands such as Wilmar with whom the Bidco Uganda Ltd partnership was begun in agribusiness and Oil Palm Plantations, Coro – a leading juices manufacturer in Denmark and Monarch Beverages of Atlanta, USA – from whom Bidco’s license for beverage brands is. In 2016, Bidco also partnered with Land O’Lakes of America, a leading farmers’ owned agribusiness cooperative, to revamp the company’s animal feeds manufacturing – borrowing from the top-notch technology and innovation.

He has also, over the years, championed Innovation and initiatives towards a world-class excellence in the company’s operations that has earned Bidco numerous awards, accolades and global recognition in Energy Management, Business Leadership, ICT, Manufacturing and Sustainability fronts.