House of Manji had humble beginnings as a bakery in Ngara, manufacturing bread. The business flourished for quite some time until wheat rationing during World War II and proliferation of similar businesses made business more and more difficult to run and the founder saw a niche in the market for biscuits and thus House of Manji was born. The HOM was set up in Industrial Area and was officially inaugurated by none other than the governor of Kenya Sir Evelyn Baring during a colorful and extravagant ceremony.

Manji grew in lips and bounds to become a household name greatly enjoyed in Kenya and the East Africa region. The “Family” and “Marie” biscuits went on to win the prestigious La Monde selection gold medal awards in Brussels, Belgium. Under the new proprietors Manji Food Industries Limited who took over the mantle from November 2002 under the chairmanship of Dr HP Dawda the company regained its prominent position to date.