Geza Ulole
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- Oct 31, 2009
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French firm takes over BIC from Haco Industries
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1 2018
Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi. His Haco Industries is set to relinquish its manufacturing and distribution of BiC stationery and personal care products. FILE PHOTO | NMG
In Summary
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French company Societe BIC is taking over the manufacturing and distribution of BIC products from Haco Industries, owned by Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi.
According to the deal, signed in Nairobi on Friday, Societe BIC will take over the factory at Kasarani where the BIC stationery, lighters and shavers are manufactured.
Workers at the BIC plant will be offered new contracts in line with Kenya’s labour laws. The law requires the new company in an acquisition deal to offer employees fresh contracts.
Mr Kirubi said the transfer of some of Haco’s assets would free up the company to grow its own brands, which it has been doing over the past eight years.
This is the second big deal for Mr Kirubi in two years. Last year, he led Haco Industries in buying back from a South African company the Tiger brand, which it had sold in 2008.
The company began as a small assembly plant based in Mombasa and eventually grew into the current semi-automated factory in Kasarani, Nairobi.
The production capacity grew from 480,000 pieces in the early 1990s to more than 20 million pens assembled per month.
It has a staff of more than 800, and this often increases to 1,000 depending on demand.
Haco has a market presence in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The company has battled counterfeiting of the BIC brand and has weathered competition from cheaper stationery products from Asia and China.
The government recently formed a multi-agency taskforce to tackle counterfeit products.
French firm takes over BIC from Haco Industries
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1 2018
Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi. His Haco Industries is set to relinquish its manufacturing and distribution of BiC stationery and personal care products. FILE PHOTO | NMG
In Summary
- Societe BIC will take over the factory at Kasarani where the BIC stationery, lighters and shavers are manufactured.
- Haco Industries is owned by Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi.
- This is the second big deal for Mr Kirubi in two years. Last year, he led Haco Industries in buying back from a South African company the Tiger brand, which it had sold in 2008.
More by this Author
French company Societe BIC is taking over the manufacturing and distribution of BIC products from Haco Industries, owned by Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi.
According to the deal, signed in Nairobi on Friday, Societe BIC will take over the factory at Kasarani where the BIC stationery, lighters and shavers are manufactured.
Workers at the BIC plant will be offered new contracts in line with Kenya’s labour laws. The law requires the new company in an acquisition deal to offer employees fresh contracts.
Mr Kirubi said the transfer of some of Haco’s assets would free up the company to grow its own brands, which it has been doing over the past eight years.
This is the second big deal for Mr Kirubi in two years. Last year, he led Haco Industries in buying back from a South African company the Tiger brand, which it had sold in 2008.
The company began as a small assembly plant based in Mombasa and eventually grew into the current semi-automated factory in Kasarani, Nairobi.
The production capacity grew from 480,000 pieces in the early 1990s to more than 20 million pens assembled per month.
It has a staff of more than 800, and this often increases to 1,000 depending on demand.
Haco has a market presence in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The company has battled counterfeiting of the BIC brand and has weathered competition from cheaper stationery products from Asia and China.
The government recently formed a multi-agency taskforce to tackle counterfeit products.
French firm takes over BIC from Haco Industries