Colonial Era

The Margarinerie et Savonerie du Cosmetiques, MARSAVCO in initials, is an industrial and commercial company. It was part of Unilever group and was born from the merger of ‘Margarinerie Rotterdam’ in Holland and ‘Lever Brother’ in London. Created in the colonial era, January 1922, under the name SAVCO (‘Savonnerie Congolaise’), Marsavco concentrated its efforts on the manufacturing of soap from palm oil and palm kernel oil. Following the installation of new equipment for the manufacturing of margarine, it changed its name and became Marsavco, ‘Margarinerie Savonnerie du Congo’ in 1929. Further to the setting-up new manufacturing facilities of margarines, the company officially changed its name to become MARSAVCO in 1953. In 1956, the company began to market edible oils made by the known “COCHVILLE,” presently under the name NECO.

Post-Independence Era

In 1961, Marsavco modernized its manufacturing facilities by installing new machinery for manufacturing of synthetic detergents and toilet soaps. This was followed by installation of machines for the manufacturing of detergent powders and toothpaste in 1963. Following the change in the country’s name to Zaire in 1971, the initial “CO”, which meant Congo, was changed to Cosmetics and the naming of the company became MARSAVCO-ZAIRE. MARSAVCO further diversified its activities by proceeding with the installation of a modern factory of synthetic cleaners and by extending its manufacturing facilities of soaps and margarines.

Present Day Era

Although MARSAVCO is a highly successful company it nevertheless had to deal with difficult periods, particularly during the looting in 1992. Having to deal with an unfavorable economic situation coupled with a very unstable macroeconomic environment, The Unilever Group decided to stop its operations in 2000. So, in February 2002, The RAWJI GROUP bought all shares in Marsavco and became the sole owner. To put the company back on track, the new owners have initiated an ambitious investment program for reorganizing, rehabilitating and expanding the company to better meet the needs of the Congolese people. Today, the company is the leader in the Congolese market, and we aim to keep improving millions of our consumers’ lives every single day

MISSION

Touching the lives of our consumers every day” We are continuously aiming to provide our consumers with branded products of superior quality and value. We believe that if we can improve their lives, now and for years to come, it will result in value creation, leadership, sales, and profitability- thus providing prosperity to all stakeholders. The desire to positively touch the lives of our consumers at every step goes beyond our branded products. For us, it is a part of Marsavco’s corporate culture, a way of life. At Marsavco we touch millions of lives everyday.