In 2015, we made a strategic investment in Lilas, a company that has since emerged as the leading independent FMCG manufacturer in French-speaking Africa. Originating in Tunisia in 1994 under the expert guidance of founders Mrs Jalila Mezni and Mr Mounir El Jaiez, Lilas specializes in the creation of a wide range of disposable paper-based personal care items for various demographics, including babies, women, and adults. Their portfolio also includes detergents, cleaning products, and a newly launched line of cosmetics, illustrating their continuous evolution and transformation. Today, Lilas boasts nine cutting-edge manufacturing plants located strategically in Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, each equipped with the latest technologies and high-speed production lines. An early adopter of digitalization, Lilas has built an efficient supply chain that supports its extensive operations. As testament to their success, the company currently distributes its products in over 20 markets across Africa and the Middle East. Their recent foray into cosmetics production, featuring an impressive range of 285 SKUs, underlines the company's commitment to innovation and growth. https://www.lilas.com.tn
Impact: Sustainability in FMCG
Manufacturing is a route for creating employment opportunities and building more sophisticated supply chains that will have a positive impact on sustainable economic growth. Increasingly, manufacturers like our partner company Lilas are looking not only at optimizing costs but also at the environmental and social impact of production and the ways to improve sustainability.
Lilas’ transformation into a leading and regional FMCG manufacturer tackled the issues of inclusive employment and gender balance through a targeted recruitment strategy favoring women living in the neighboring local communities. Through local community hiring, the company created decent jobs and training opportunities and contributed to advancing economic prosperity and stability of its local communities. Not only did Lilas impact thousands of people and their families, but it also reached millions of customers as it expanded its product base. To address the growing supply-demand gap in the hygiene and detergent sectors, the company placed a focus on providing quality and affordable products to a wide segment of the population, catering to the needs of both middle class and low-income populations and offering an alternative to high-priced imported products and international brands. Lilas invested in building a supply chain network reaching more than 40,000 points of sale and expanded the accessibility of its products to rural populations across Tunisia. Lilas’ commitment to mitigating climate change and supporting the environment motivated the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices within its production processes. To eliminate reliance on diesel generators, Lilas installed a gas powered co-generation boiler that produces steam for the cellulose wadding manufacturing and electricity for its own consumption. As part of the company’s commitment to sustainable consumption and production, and to ensure its products remain affordable to reach a wide segment of the population, Lilas integrates recycled paper and plastic within its production process with 35%of its production being based on recycled paper and 15%of its recycled plastic being re-used.