OUR HISTORY
1947
The Somdia adventure began when the Vilgrain family, head of Grands Moulins de Paris, bought a 12,000 hectare of agricultural concession in Congo. It was there, in the Niari valley, that a groundnut oil mill was founded, followed by a sugar refinery, a flour mill and a sugar factory in Moutela.
From Gabon to Cameroon, via Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, the links between the French family business and the African continent continued to grow stronger and richer as new companies were created and new operations set up.
1970
The Somdia group was officially created. Its ambition: to develop agro-industrial projects with and for Africa. Recognised for its expertise and know-how, Somdia multiplied its partnerships with governments and private investors, and expanded in West and Central Africa. Flour and sugar mills are being built in Cameroon, Chad and Togo, and even on Reunion Island.
2011
Somdia joins forces with the Castel Group, which becomes the major shareholder, then sole shareholder in 2022. This integration will enable Somdia to turn a new page in its
history and pursue its diversification strategy, driven by its values and commitments. The group’s development is guided by a demanding social and environmental policy.
2023
The quality of its products, the rigor of its industrial process and its food safety standards make Somdia Group a leader in the sugar market in Africa, and a decisive player in the economic and social development of the countries where it operates. In 2023, a new brand signature will embody the industrial and social ambitions of a group resolutely turned towards the future: Somdia, Growing together.
