Pwani Oil Group is one of the largest and most successful consumer goods companies in Kenya. Based in Mombasa, the company mainly specializes in manufacturing cooking oil, cleaning detergents and washing soaps.
In this article, WoK takes a look at the founders, leadership structure and management of Pwani Oil Group Limited.
Pwani Oil Group Limited
Pwani Oil Group is a consumer goods company with its headquarters based in Mombasa, Kenya. The name ‘Pwani’ was derived from a Swahili word which means Coast since that’s where the first factory was established. The company mainly specializes in the production of cooking oils under the brand names Fresh Fri, Fresh Fri Garlic, Fresh Fri Ginger, Salit cooking oil, Salit vegetable oil, Popco cooking oil, Mpishi poa and Fry Mate.
The family owned business also produces a wide range of skincare, bathing and antibacterial products under the brand names Detrex Germ Protection soap, Detrex sanitizers, Diva antibacterial beauty soap, Diva Glycerine, Sawa Family shop and Sawa Liquid hand wash. Other products from the company are Ushindi, White Wash, White Wash Extra, Popco Bar Soap, Ndume Bar Soap and Rainbow washing powder.
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Pwani Oil Group Owners
The Company was established in 1981 by Ramesh Kanji Malde together with his brothers, Anil and Naresh Malde. It started out as a coconut oil production plant before changing into Jomvu Pwani Oil Products factory where they manufactured corn and sunflower oils. In 1985 the company metamorphosed into palm oil refining and gained the name Pwani Oil Group Company. The three brothers, who are of Indian descent, established the company with the vision of providing quality products that would facilitate consumers to cook healthy food and wash hygienically.
Pwani Oil Group Success
The company has been able to stand on its feet for over 37 years and continues to compete favourably in the highly competitive market. Today, Pwani Oil Group Company boasts of a modern state of the art factory situated in Kikambala, Kilifi County. The factory plant has a capacity to refine over 1,000 metric tons of oil in a day. The company is a proud member of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and its products are certified by HALAL and the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KEBS). It generates an annual turnover of approximately USD 67 Million and has created direct job opportunities to over 500 people and indirect employment to thousands of people.
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Leadership and Management
Pwani Oil Group Company is a family owned company and the leadership team mainly consists of members of the Malde family. The Board of Directors consists of the three founders (Ramesh Malde, Anil Malde and Naresh Malde) Patrick Mwenda who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rajul Malde who is the Director – Commercial Development, Riten Malde who is the Director of Operations, Aarti Malde who is the Director of Corporate Governance, Rajan Malde who is the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mukesh Shah who is the Board Advisor and Adema Sangale who is also a Board Advisor.
Other key leaders in the company include Vincent Mbalu – Head of Commercial support, Edward Magiri – Senior Manager of National Sales, Sidik Kassam – Manager of Business Development, Anthony Kamau – Country Manager of Tanzania, Dhrubojyoti Purkayastha – Head of Marketing, Bernie Mwangi – Manager of Credit Control, Viraaj Malde – Senior Manager of Commercial Control and Pranab Bhowmik – Manager of Research and Development.
