MFH Group MD: From Small Beginnings Come Great Things
Fady Hocheimy
Great things, they say, come from small beginnings. And one of which is MFH Group, a Gambian-owned company that serves as the umbrella body of LG Electronics, Sunu Kerr, King Food, and Banjul Pharmacy in the Smiling Coast of Africa. Fady Hocheimy, the managing director of MFH Group, which was started about 50 years ago from a small Banjul pharmacy, speaks to Elegance Magazine in this exclusive about the genesis of the Group and its contribution to The Gambia’s economy and life of her people.
Elegance Magazine: Who is Fady Hocheimy and how did MFH Group, a household name in The Gambia, start?
Fady Hocheimy: I am part of the 4th generation Hocheimy in The Gambia. My great grandfather came to The Gambia around the year 1920, and my grandfather was born in The Gambia in 1932. My Father, also born in The Gambia, started MFH Group from a small Banjul Pharmacy in 1970 and today I am the owner and Managing Director of the Group, which is the umbrella company of LG, Sunu Kerr, King Food, and Banjul Pharmacy.
EM: MFH has grown to become one of the biggest retailers of consumer products in The Gambia. What is the story behind this growth?
FH: As I mentioned earlier, the business started from humble beginnings in 1970 by my father from a small pharmacy at Wellington Street, Banjul. In the 1980s he opened Sunu Kerr and in 1991 he began the LG business (Goldstar by then). Today we employ over 200 people. Being Gambians ourselves, we aim to do good to our society and that virtuetranslates to our business. We have a stake in the development of this nation. We have always imported quality products toThe Gambia; products that we use ourselves. For example, the pharmaceutical products we import are the ones I give to my own children. The Suvinil Paints we have been selling since 1994 are among the best in the world. LG Electronics is renowned for quality products and great after-sales service.
EM: You run various business concerns. What are the challenges in the market space of realizing these ventures?
FH: Each market has its challenges. Each industry is becoming much more competitive and we must always find ways to differentiate ourselves. With medicines, there are strict regulations, and rightfully so as it is a health matter. We make sure we maintain the quality of our products. The same applies to the products at Sunu Kerr and King Food; the products we sell are of high value and provide long-term benefits. At LG we are proud to offer the most innovative and durable consumer electronics in the world to The Gambia, and what makes us really unique is our after-sales service. All LG products come with a genuine 1-year warranty and a fully equipped service department that finds solutions to any problem that may arise.
EM: Why should the Gambian market trust the authenticity and efficacy of your products?
FH: If we believe in our products, then I am sure every Gambian will. We import our products from some of the most well-known international companies such as BASF, LG Electronics, Remedica, Tramontina, Foster Clark, etc. But more importantly, and since we have been in business for almost 50 years, our track record speaks for itself. In The Gambia, being a small country, word-of-mouth can make or break you, and thank God our actions have proven we conduct our business in the most ethical manner possible.
EM: LG Electronics has done extremely well, but why only LG and not Samsung or other brands?
FH: LG is among the top 3 global consumer brands and employs more than 80,000 people all over the world. Thebusiness produces some of the best electronics on earth. In Africa, LG was the first to invest in after-sales service. Customers want solutions and are willing to pay for it. They want peace of mind, and we offer them that. We guarantee that when you buy an LG product from us, you will be delighted with your experience. We genuinely care that our clients are satisfied with our products and services. People by nature need to feel that someone cares for them, and because we understand that need, we go out of our way to make sure every customer is delighted. It has become our company culture.
EM: What’s your daily routine as a managing director overseeing all four companies?
FH: I start my day early by meditating, exercising, and having coffee. I spend some time with the kids and then head to the office. I personally start at 8 a.m. before everybody; that gives me time to do emails and work without distractions. I am very organised and most of my day is planned in advance. Of course, new tasks may come up, but based on their importance and urgency, they are allocated a slot in my ‘to-do’ list. I schedule meetings during specific periods so that I can spend the remaining time visiting our different departments. I enjoy interacting with my staff; listening to them, learning from them, and sharing what I know. Great companies are made from great people, and I invest so much time and effort in selecting and creating the best people around. I alone cannot manage all our departments, hence the need for a company structure. Different people handle different things, and my duty is to make sure they know what they should be doing, train them, empower them, and monitor.
EM: Your 200+ staff is a good number of employed Gambians, basically contributing to national development. But do you develop their capacity to render more professional service?
FH: As I have already mentioned, in order to be the best company, we must have the best staff. We start by hiring people who want to learn and be better; people who want to be leaders. Then we spend time training them on their duties at work. We respect them. We believe that if you work for MFH Group and one day decide to leave us, you should be a much better version of yourself than when you started.
EM: After each year of intense work, do you usually take a break or recess to some holiday destinations to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor?
FH: I work hard. So I do take a break and come back fresh and ready to engage in another kick-ass round of work! I make sure I travel at least once a year for leisure. The destination does not really matter as long as I can meet new people and see new places and learn new things.
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Quotes:
“In The Gambia, being a small country, word of mouth can make or break you, and thank God our actions have proven we conduct our business in the most ethical manner possible.”
“We genuinely care that our clients are satisfied with our products and services. People by nature need to feel that someone cares for them, and because we understand that need, we go out of our way to make sure every customer is delighted. It has become our company culture.”
“I make sure I travel at least once a year for leisure. The destination does not really matter as long as I can meet new people and see new places and learn new things.”
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