REPI SOAP & DETERGENT PLC formerly known as REPI Soap factory was established 1974 by the name Bianil Ethiopia Share Company by foreign investors of Swiss & Greek origin aiming to produce and distributed powdered detergent to East Africa market which was dominantly by Uniliver brand OMO. Less than a year after its formation, it was owned by the Ethiopian government & was managed under the direct supervision of the National Chemical Corporation and was re-established as a public enterprise in 1992 by the council of Ministers and was recapitalized by Birr 1,525,000.00.
At that time, the company main vision was to compete against local & imported powder detergent through its famous brand “ROL” , due to the machinery age and technological issues there was an issue of wastage which nearly bankrupted the company but thanks to a pioneering idea of creating detergent bar (cake) in 1979, Repi gave birth to a new line of product and a new brand “Ajax”. Again in 1994 production of a liquid detergent was introduced under the brand name ‘LARGO”
Following the earmarking of REPI Soap factory by the government for joint venture partnership , LINA PLC having registered its interest in the joint venture Commissioned Vision Consultancy PVT LTD CO to undertake a series of studies on the factory with the aim of concluding a joint venture agreement with the factory management and the E.F.D.R Privatization & Public Enterprise Supervising Authority.
A joint venture partnership between “LENA PLC” and E.F.D.R Privatization & Public Enterprise Supervising Authority (PESSA) was then established during the fiscal period 2007/2008 after intensive negotiation was carried out between both parties involved which there after paved the way for the establishment of REPI SOAP & DETERGENT SHARE COMPANY.
LINA PLC is a share company mainly involved in trading ,real estate and small scale manufacturing of corrugated steel & tea and added REPI SOAP & DETERGENT PLC to its portfolio of investment by acquiring 51% of share amounting to Birr 9,360,000.00 of the total share amounting to 18,360 ,000 while the remaining 49% amounting to birr 9,000,000 was raised by PESSA in the form of assets based on business evaluation of the factory.
The joint venture arrangement lasted one year followed by a full takeover of the share company by
LENA PLC after settling of the remaining 49% share previously held by the Ethiopian government.
In response to the growing demands of the soap & detergent, today our company is a leading player and well respected organization in the country detergent industry. The current market demand for our product and the fact that the current factory could not provide us the product volume due to imperfect condition and age of machinery and equipment’s therefore not supplying the capacity required ,we are committed to exciting expansion project which is in a final phase ,would be beneficial for the shareholder ,employees local businesses and overall the company. In this sector REPI has positioned itself at the fore-front of the market.
In July,2014 Repi Soap and Detergent S. Co. (Repi) and Wilmar International Limited (Wilmar) have signed a joint investment agreement for the upgrading of an existing manufacturing facility in Sebeta Road, Kolfe Karenio Sub City and building of a new integrated manufacturing complex in Dima, Sebeta Town, Oromia Region in Ethiopia that will house an edible oil refinery and packing plant, production plants for specialty fats, soft oils, soaps and detergents, as well as a facility for sesame seed processing. Repi and Wilmar will each have a 50%participation in the joint investment.
Repi is a sister company of AL-SAM Private Limited Company, incorporated and existing under the laws of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It engages in the manufacturing of soap and detergent products. Headquartered in Singapore, Wilmar is Asia’s leading agribusiness group engaging in oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oils refining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fats, oleo-chemical, biodiesel and fertilizer manufacturing, and grain processing. It has a presence in 14 countries across Africa. This joint investment marks Wilmar’s first operations in Ethiopia.
Combining the expertise of both parties, the joint investment will have a positive impact on the development of the manufacturing and export sector, as well as create employment opportunities in Ethiopia.
About Wilmar
Wilmar International Limited, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Singapore, is today Asia’s leading agribusiness group. Wilmar is ranked amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalisation on the Singapore Exchange.Wilmar’s business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oilsrefining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fats, oleochemical, biodiesel and fertiliser manufacturing, and grain processing.
At the core of Wilmar’s strategy is a resilient integrated agribusiness model that encompasses the entire value chain of the agricultural commodity processing business, from origination and processing to branding, merchandising and distribution of a wide range of agricultural products. It has over 450 manufacturing plants and an extensive distribution network covering China, India, Indonesia and some 50 other countries. The Group is backed by a multinational workforce of about 90,000 people. Wilmar’s portfolio of high quality processed agricultural products is the preferred choice of the food manufacturing industry, as well as the industrial and consumer food businesses. Its consumer-packed products occupy a leading share in its targeted markets. Through scale, integration and the logistical advantages of its business model, Wilmar is able to extract margins at every step of the value chain, thereby reaping operational synergies and cost efficiencies.
Wilmar remains a firm advocate of sustainable growth and is committed to its role as a responsible corporate citizen.
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