By Kenneth Kwama – Kenya: The man who founded East Africa’s biggest biscuit manufacturer, House of Manji, started out as a hawker in Karatina town, Nyeri County, where his family owned a chain of businesses including grocery shops.
Madatally Manji would sneak out of school during lunch break to sell his own wares at Karatina market. His efforts at the market did not yield much because his parents, who had migrated from Bombay, India, in 1908, insisted on utilising his skills on the family business.
They made him a clerk in charge of transportation of commodities around Central Kenya, but he didn’t last in this job. He quickly came up with a plan to start a bakery and achieved his dream when, through a partnership, he was able to buy and run one in 1941, in Nairobi.
The outlet, christened Ngara Bakeries, made only bread, cakes and other flour confectioneries.
More Standard Digital News : : Kenya@50 – Biscuit baron who built Kenya’s first bakery.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenyaat50/
Earlier: Meet the Boss: Ahsan Manji, managing director, Weetabix East Africa
Biscuit Baron Who Strove for Economic Freedom – Madatally Manji
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