This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
On July 11, 2020, Bidco Africa marked a significant milestone in the manufacturing sector with the launch of a new juice production line in Ruiru, Kiambu County. The joint venture with Danish firm Co-Ro aims to produce the SunQuick fruit drink concentrate for both local and export markets.
Co-Ro, a Danish manufacturer of fruit-based soft drinks, has a global presence in over 80 countries. The new product will trade under the name Bidcoro, a joint brand between the two firms.
Speaking during the launch, Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina emphasized the government's commitment to supporting private sector players in rejuvenating the manufacturing sector. She assured local industries that they will be protected from unfair competition, saying, “Our upcoming industrialists can rest assured that they are now protected from unscrupulous trade practices.”
Bidcoro Chief Operations Officer Mads Burmester noted that Kenya's improved ease of doing business will enable the subsidiary to export up to 90 per cent of its products to the rest of Africa. He added, “We had to move the production of this product from Mauritius to Kenya. This will open up a lot of avenues to empower our people and to positively contribute to the growth of our economy.”
Bidco Chairman Vimal Shah highlighted the strides the industry has made towards ensuring competitiveness and being able to play among multinational peers. He said, “This is a mark of confidence. We are not looking back in our quest to inspire many with products that deliver value to consumers' needs.”
