Célestin Tawamba acquires Grands Moulins assets

Cameroonian businessman Célestin Tawamba has taken a major step in expanding his reach across Central Africa after completing the purchase of Grands Moulins du Cameroun and Grands Moulins du Congo, two milling units previously owned by the SOMDIA Group. The companies, which hold long-established positions in flour and feed production, now fall under the umbrella of Cadyst Group, Tawamba’s fast-growing agri-food conglomerate.

Célestin Tawamba secures regional support for growth

The transaction gives Cadyst Group a broader base in flour processing, animal feed, and consumer food products, backed by five banks and additional support from lenders across the sub-region. The financing support reflects lenders’ confidence in Tawamba’s operational record and his ability to scale businesses in a sector considered vital to the region’s stability.

Tawamba, who announced the deal in August, said the move was not only about expanding factory capacity or adding new lines of business. “This marks the beginning of a new chapter,” he said. “What matters most are the people joining us—their work, their knowledge, and their commitment. They are the ones who make our growth possible.”

Cadyst deepens hold on regional food chain

Cadyst Group has grown steadily since 2002, when Tawamba launched La Pasta, a small production unit that turned out 25 tons of flour and pasta per day. More than two decades later, the group has become one of the most visible players in Central Africa’s food industry.

It runs flour operations under Cadyst Grain, pasta and biscuit production under the PANZANI brand, and retail activities through Cadyst Retail. The company has also moved into healthcare and, more recently, animal feed and poultry farming through Cadyst Farming, which produces day-old chicks for farmers in the region.

The group employs over 1,300 people and operates five factories in Cameroon, including a site in Kribi, supported by 10 logistics centers across the country. By adding the SOMDIA assets in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, Cadyst is poised to tighten control over both upstream and downstream operations—from milling and feed production to finished food products.

Seven-site merger strengthens Cadyst’s market reach

With seven industrial sites and a combined workforce of more than 1,500 employees, the newly merged teams are working to align processes, share technical know-how, and raise output. Industry observers say the integration should help Cadyst improve product availability and maintain stable prices in the CEMAC market, where food supply remains a sensitive issue.

For Célestin Tawamba, who ranks as one of Cameroon’s top businessmen, the acquisition underscores his long-stated goal: building a regional food group capable of serving African households at accessible prices while keeping production close to the communities it serves.