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Kenyan consumer goods maker Haco Industries, owned by Mary Ann Musangi and her brother Robert Kirubi, says it will begin operations in Ghana by the end of April, betting on a partner led model to enter West Africa without building new factories.
The company plans to enter Ghana through a joint venture with an undisclosed local firm that will manufacture and distribute Haco products in the market, Managing Director Mary Ann Musangi said in an interview.
Musangi said Haco is not buying equipment or setting up a plant in Ghana, calling the approach a lean expansion strategy designed to get products into stores quickly while keeping capital spending low. She did not disclose the size of the investment.
Under the plan, the Ghanaian partner will provide the production capacity, including equipment, while Haco will supply raw materials manufactured in Kenya and work with other partners to distribute finished goods in Ghana, Musangi said.
Haco is known in Kenya for personal care and home care products, plus a growing plastics and toys segment. Its product list includes brands such as Amara and Miadi in personal care and So Soft, Sparkle and Ace in home care, alongside toy lines under Mattel.
The Ghana launch is part of a broader push that Musangi said is aimed at building an Africa wide business, not just a sales footprint. She said Haco is also preparing for entry into Nigeria and Senegal in a later phase.
The company’s strategy is tied to sourcing and processing African raw materials, a policy Musangi described as backward integration. She said Haco sources natural oils from within Africa, naming argan oil and jojoba from North Africa, shea butter from Ghana and Uganda, and cocoa butter, alongside Kenyan sourced inputs such as moringa, canola, coconut and baobab oils. She also cited local aloe vera purchases from Kenya’s coast and eastern region.
Haco’s West Africa move comes as manufacturers look for growth beyond their home markets, where price competition is stiff and distribution costs are rising. Ghana offers access to a large consumer base and a gateway into neighboring markets, while Kenya remains a base for product development and sourcing.
The company traces its roots to Kenyan industrialist Chris Kirubi, who built Haco into a major local manufacturer and distributor. The business went through a period of shared ownership after South Africa’s Tiger Brands bought a controlling stake in 2008, before Kirubi later bought back the shares to regain full control, according to earlier business reporting.
Musangi said the Ghana model is meant to balance speed and control: move products through a partner that already has capacity, while keeping Haco’s supply chain connected to its existing sourcing network. If the rollout works, the company expects to replicate the approach in other West African markets as it expands distribution and taps more local inputs across the continent.
