OUR MISSION
Transforming industries across East Africa since 1940s
Sumaria’s purpose is to build great companies & transform industries by partnering with those who share our belief in applying innovation, professional management and entrepreneurial energy to improve the everyday life of people in Africa.
We are successful because we believe that above all else, industry is made of ideas, values & individuals.
What started as a small trading house in the 1940s has evolved into East Africa's most diversified business group, with operations spanning five countries and seven key sectors.
We don't just invest in businesses; we roll up our sleeves and build them from the ground up. Whether it's turning a government company in receivership into a market leader with 60% share, or being the first Tanzanian company to acquire a major Kenyan business, we've never shied away from bold moves that others consider impossible.
Eight decades building industries across Africa
Diversified companies spanning multiple strategic sectors
Strategic presence across East
& Southern Africa
Extensive greenfield developments and strategic acquisitions.
Our Core Values
Trust
Sumaria builds partnership on the foundation of trust. We earn the trust of our partners, suppliers & customers through the quality of our products, the sincerity of our employees, and the promises we keep.
Excellence
Being good can prevent some from becoming great. That’s why at Sumaria, excellence is a core value. We believe in stretching beyond our perceived limits and setting industry leading standards in partnership with our employees, customers and suppliers.
Integrity
Sumaria is built on the integrity each individual employee brings to work every day when serving our customers & suppliers, and creating value for our partners. That integrity is the foundation for the consistency of our intentions, our words and our actions.
Teamwork
Teamwork at Sumaria means working together towards common objectives, with clarity and contribution. We believe that teamwork across our entire value chain, and throughout the communities where we operate, brings out the best in all of us.
Humility
There is a quiet intensity that is intrinsic in everything we do. It keeps us grounded but never complacent. Humility is Sumaria’s silent differentiator that permeates through all our actions.
Respect
At Sumaria actions speak louder than words, and those actions are always based on mutual respect for each other. The interconnected network of our employees, customers, suppliers and partners works well together because of mutual respect.
Trust
Passion is what drives us to improve, innovate and raise the standard, even when we’re market leaders. Our success springs from the point where our passion meets that of our employees, customers, suppliers and partners.
Community Impact Initiatives
At Sumaria Group, we believe that long-term business success goes hand in hand with meaningful contributions to society. Our CSR efforts are grounded in strategic partnerships and hands-on engagement, with a focus on sustainable impact.
We play an active role in supporting and managing the Human Welfare Trust, helping to drive its mission of empowering vulnerable communities through targeted social programs. We are also long-standing supporters of Rotary and Lions Club initiatives, both locally and regionally.
Our healthcare focus is centred on cancer support, particularly for children, where we fund early diagnosis, treatment access, and recovery initiatives. In education, we provide assistance across both school and university levels, helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds access quality education and scholarships.
Through these efforts, Sumaria Group continues to invest in building healthier, more equitable communities across East Africa.
Meet the Team
Proven leadership team with decades of experience.
