Davis & Shirtliff, the leading water and vitality equipment supplier in East Africa is celebrating its 75th Anniversary, a major milestone in its company history. This is a most uncommon achievement for any organisation, although especially one which has the same family shareholding and essentially the same market focus since its founding. There are Odd with this declare and D&S is subsequently extremely happy with the achievement with various events being held in celebration.
The company was based in 1946 by ex-soldiers Eddie Davis and Dick Shirtliff after leaving the army, initially being based mostly at Westlands, in Nairobi, their neighbour being Westlands Motors that rose to prominence with the Toyota franchise.
It grew quickly because the country recovered after the struggle specializing in boreholes, water provides and the espresso business. One notable early challenge included the water supply for Karen Estates, the complete initial water supply infrastructure being installed by the company in addition to for many different of the residential estates that have been developed at the moment.
D&S grew with the nation and in the mid-1950s the bottom was moved to new larger premises at the present Dundori Rd location within the industrial area. An added activity was swimming swimming pools, both residential and business and many were constructed that are still in use at present. Water Treatment was another diversification, most of the KenGen Tana River stations having D&S designed and built equipment.
In 1970 companion Dick Shirtliff retired and after a interval with another companion, Devji Shingadia, the Davis household, then represented by Eddie’s son Alec assumed management. The 70’s and 80’s noticed sluggish but steady progress as the nation grappled with various financial and political challenges, though there was a particular focus on building the pump enterprise for which the corporate is so well-known, notably by way of illustration of the Danish manufacturer Grundfos.
1993 was a big year for both Kenya and D&S as a end result of financial liberalisation which was the catalyst for the company’s rapid development since. It was also the 12 months that Pedrollo pumps from Italy have been first launched, now the Group’s largest provider. These two developments enabled a distribution strategy to be developed as supply constraints were removed and the department community was then established, initially with Kenya branches being opened in Westlands, Eldoret and Kisumu and subsidiaries in Uganda and Tanzania quickly adopted by establishing activities at the Coast though the merger with partner Butech. The pump enterprise grew massively with Pedrollo and the now well-established Solar and Power Generation actions had been then added.
Since the Millennium development has significantly accelerated, revenue growing many times to KShs10 Billion today. Major initiatives have included a complete redevelopment of the Dundori Rd web site with enlargement into adjoining plots, the opening of subsidiaries and affiliate companies in Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and DRC, considerable development of the branch network, introduction of the profitable Dayliff vary of own-brand merchandise and an enormous enlargement of the product vary with Solar being especially successful as the company developed its concentrate on renewable power. More just lately a serious improvement has been institution of an enormous 10,000m2 Distribution Centre at Tatu City that provides the resource for elevated stockholding and has reworked distribution effectivity all through the area, this facility being accomplished in 2020. Staffing has also grown correspondingly, the Group now employing over one thousand dedicated staff operating from over 70 locations.
It is commonly stated that success is transitory and sometimes unsustainable, though D&S has managed to maintain unbroken growth for an exceptional time period. This has been achieved by industrial focus, manageable ambition, steady bodily and organisational investment and, importantly, residing the values established by the founders of Quality, Integrity and ‘Altiora Peto’, which translates to embracing continuous change. D&S is now a extensively recognised company within the area and is pleased with the contribution it has made, summarised by its slogan ‘Improving Lives’ which is demonstrated each by the necessary nature of its actions and likewise by an energetic programme of community help that focuses on offering water to underprivileged communities, many thousands of people having benefited.
Of course, the 75-year milestone is just a moment in a steady journey and the Group continues to develop with numerous ongoing initiatives and great plans for the longer term. Ably led by CEO David Gatende and supported by devoted and committed executives and staff driving this development, the company is lucky that the third era of Davis’s, Edward and Henry, have joined the enterprise so continuity is assured. The Group continues to increase in product and markets with a selected concentrate on digital business and appears ahead to keep serving the region with important products that actually Improve Lives and in addition to show that an indigenous African company can compete internationally and be a world-class organisation.
Share