BAR SOAP BUSINESS IN KENYA

September 16, 2014

Bar soap, used for laundry and by extension toiletry, is by far one of the most used consumer commodity in Kenya and the whole of Africa. It is only second to cooking oil, salt and onion. The market for Bar soap in Kenya is under-utilized. Until now, less than Ten manufacturers are enjoying this vast market of over 99% (40 million plus) of soap users! The most popular Bar Soap brands in Kenya are: Panga, Menengai, Whitestar, White, Ushindi, Wash, Kuku, Lima, Rupi, Key, Sunlight and Jamaa. Most of these brands are owned by multi national companies who enjoy the monopoly.

Venturing into this under-uterized industry cannot only be rewarding, but also very lucrative. It is an under uterized, uncompetitave industry because only few players are into it.

There are only Ten manufacturers who enjoy the robust monopoly of a consumer base of 43 million people here in Kenya! You can therefore become the 11th, 12th, or even 100th new entrant into this field without any worry or intimidation. Still, even 1000 manufacturers of Laundry Bar Soap CANNOT satisfy this market.

Soap manufacturing, particularly Laundry Bar soap, has been mystified through conspiracy and lack of information. Majority of people who would like to venture into this industry usually think that the trade is reserved only for big manufacturing companies. They harbor the belief that manufacturing Soap Making technology requires complex and expensive machinery. They also believe that soap making Oils, chemicals and other raw materials are scarce, non existent, or too expensive. In the real sense, making laundry soap is one of the easiest and cheapest Business Venture! For example; making a 800g of Laundry Bar Soap will cost you Ksh. 40 worth of raw materials (oils, Sodium Hydroxide, perfume and Color). The retail price for this Bar is between Ksh. 110-140. This translates well into over 150% net profit, yet, one would only need simple wooden molds, stainless steel pots and fire! Even where large scale manufacturing is needed, the motorized machines that can make as much as 200 dozens of Bar soap per hour are quite inexpensive and readily available here in Kenya, Botswana, Rwanda, Tanzania and other countries of East And Central African countries. The prices of these machines range between Ksh. 30,000-500,000/-. We have been in the forefront of demystifying Soap Manufacturing as well as acquisition of soap making machinery. Call us today for free information about soap making. 0723424240 We also provide information on soap business based on County
feasibility studies. E.g. Meru and Eldoret counties are the largest consumers of Bar Soap. Other counties notable for robust bar soap use are Nandi, Kisii, Machakos, etc. Bar soap business is exceptionally good in regions like Kisumu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Busia, Kakamega and the larger Central, Rift Valley and North Eastern regions.

DID YOU KNOW?
One of the recently introduced best selling Bar Soap brands into the market started with a capital base of only Ksh. 13,000/-?
We are the people behind this success story! The owners (a couple) of this best selling brand (name withheld), approached our consultancy firm with a view of trading in Onion business at Emali. We told them that we deal with Cosmetics and Detergents manufacturing, sales and marketing. We suggested that they try out soap business, and the wife accepted. A month later into the new business, we sold them a Soap Plodder with a capacity to make 50kg ( 5.2 dozens of 800g bar soap) per hour. Now, their production capacity is 100 dozens per day.

EXPERT ADVICE ON FORMULATION RATIOS
We offer certified advice on various formulation ratios for Bar soap that will see your production cost go down as low as ksh. 17/- per 800g bar. These ratios are good when using various oils such as palm, Coconut, Tallow and corn oil.

We offer free advice on ratio formulation and free training for those who buy soap making machines from us!

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See a related story on WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR A SOAP BUSINESS STARTUP

Written by Cosmetics Kenya Posted in Uncategorized