Interconsumer Products Limited is a success story of Kenya’s industrial innovativeness. The business started as a sole proprietorship in 1995 as a backstreet outfit manufacturing shampoos & conditioners and selling them directly to the salons. Its capital base was Kshs 3000/= and it started in a small room in Nairobi’s Kirinyaga road which was offered for free by the proprietor’s friend. We were making shampoos using plastic drums and mixing stick (mwiko) and heating oils using debe and jiko. Delivery of products to customers was by hand cart (mkokoteni). The business had to persevere the indignity of its products being rejected by the mainstream outlets and banks and suppliers reluctance to extend any credit facility.

With time great demand for the products was realized and the company moved to bigger premises along Ngariama road at Ngariama house in downtown Nairobi.

The business was later incorporated into a limited company in December 1996 and moved from Ngariama house to slightly bigger premises in Gikomba. During this period, the company began to expand and increase its product range by introducing hair gels and pomades into its product portfolio.

Although the company did not have adequate resources, the products proved to be very popular with the local hairdressers as they were readily available and the prices were affordable compared to what was in the market then.

The Directors ploughed back all the proceeds in to the business to finance growth and extension of the product range. This saw the company’s production capacity grow tremendously and this called for change of selling and operational strategies.

In the year 1998 the demand for our products forced the company to move to even larger premises in Nairobi’s industrial area. With bigger space and production capacity, the company added body lotions and hair treatment into its existing product line.

Between 1998 and 2001, the company laid emphasis on quality and professionalism gaining an upper hand over other local competitors and also enabling it to compete with international brands. This saw the company experience rapid growth and great demand for the products which were at this time available in the mainstream retail and wholesale chains and commanding a sizable market share.

In 2002, there was great influx of unregulated imported cosmetics into the market from Southern Asia which brought unfair competition. This forced Interconsumer Products to look for other markets in the region thus starting to export its products directly to Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The products were well received in the region and they attracted traders who were interested in distributing them. The company considered this option and appointed distributors as the main channels of taking the products to these countries. This model of distribution saw the market share of the products increase tremendously. Interconsumer Products Ltd has continued to be innovative and has taken the lead in manufacturing and distribution of Hair Care, Skin Care, Personal Care and Baby Care products which are well researched and formulated to suit the needs of our target market.

In 2006, the company engaged in expansion programs in response to increased market demand for quality products thus embarking on construction of a new factory in 2007 to host all its operations. The company moved to its new premises along Mombasa Road in 2008 where it has continued to invest in modern technology to produce high quality products.

Interconsumer Products Limited commands a substantial market share both in the local and the COMESA markets. Its share of the mass market is unrivalled both in Kenya and regionally where Nice & Lovely brand comes second to none and is the most popular product in hair and skin care.

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