ONA Group
A formerly listed Moroccan conglomerate that operated across food, retail, mining, finance, telecommunications, energy, and other strategic sectors.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
ONA Group, short for Omnium Nord-Africain, was a Moroccan holding company and diversified conglomerate established in 1934 and dissolved at the end of 2010. Although its roots lay in transport, tourism, automotive distribution, and mining, ONA developed into one of Morocco's largest business groups, building or holding significant positions in food processing, retail, banking, insurance brokerage, telecommunications, mining, steel, energy, real estate, business services, and industrial distribution. The company's institutional history began with the Compagnie Générale de Transport et de Tourisme, created in 1919 by Jean Épinat. That enterprise became the exclusive Moroccan agent for General Motors in 1928 and was reorganized as Omnium Nord-Africain in 1934. During the postwar period, control of the assets passed to Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, commonly known as Paribas. In 1980, King Hassan II acquired Paribas's shares, making the Moroccan monarchy the group's principal shareholder and contributing to ONA's role in the country's economic development. ONA's major diversification phase began in the 1980s. It entered or expanded in dairy products, sugar, banking, chemicals, textiles, edible oils, retail, and other consumer industries. The group acquired an interest in Lesieur Afrique in 1986 and obtained a substantial position in Banque Commerciale du Maroc, which later formed part of the broader Attijariwafa Bank group. ONA also participated in the launch of 2M, described in the reference material as the first pay-television service in the Arab world, and opened its first Marjane hypermarket in 1990. These moves gave the conglomerate exposure to both essential consumer goods and modern retail distribution. By 2009, food-related businesses represented the largest share of ONA's reported activity. Its portfolio included Centrale Laitière, Fromagerie des Doukkala, Cosumar, Lesieur Cristal, Bimo, Sotherma, CMB Plastique, and seafood operations. Distribution was another major pillar, with Marjane and Acima retail formats, Sopriam's automotive distribution activities, and Optorg's industrial-goods distribution. Mining and materials included Groupe Managem and Sonasid. The group also held interests in Inwi, the energy and environmental company Nareva, the real-estate holding Onapar, call-center and information-systems businesses, and financial-services companies including Attijariwafa Bank and Agma Lahlou-Tazi. ONA's development strategy emphasized leadership positions in sectors considered important to Morocco's industrialization and long-term growth. Through Fondation ONA, the group and its successor also supported cultural programming, arts, and artists from Morocco and abroad. This philanthropic and cultural role complemented its commercial activities. In March 2010, ONA and Societe Nationale d'Investissement announced a strategic reorganization and merger. The transaction led to the withdrawal of both companies from the Casablanca Stock Exchange and transformed the combined structure into an investment company intended to give subsidiaries greater managerial autonomy. ONA ceased operations as a separate group on December 31, 2010, with its activities integrated into Societe Nationale d'Investissement, which became the successor organization. Several former ONA businesses were subsequently sold or reorganized, including agricultural and food holdings that were disposed of after the merger.
History
The origins of ONA Group can be traced to the Compagnie Générale de Transport et de Tourisme, founded in 1919 by Jean Épinat. The company became General Motors' exclusive agent in Morocco in 1928, linking its early development to transport, tourism, and automotive distribution. In 1934, it was renamed Omnium Nord-Africain and became a holding company after entering the mining sector. After the Second World War, the group's assets came under the control of Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, or Paribas. In 1980, King Hassan II acquired Paribas's shares, making the Moroccan monarchy the principal shareholder. This change reinforced ONA's position as a large domestic investment platform and helped establish its role in sectors viewed as important to Morocco's economic development. During the 1980s, ONA pursued broad diversification. It entered dairy products, sugar, banking, chemicals, textiles, and related consumer and industrial activities. In 1986, the group acquired shares in Lesieur Afrique and obtained nearly 40 percent of Banque Commerciale du Maroc. It also participated in the development of 2M in 1988. In 1990, ONA entered modern retail by opening the Marjane Bouregreg hypermarket, creating a platform that later expanded alongside the Acima format. The group continued to add strategic businesses in the 2000s. In 2005, it acquired Maroc Connect, which became Wana and later Inwi, and launched Nareva Holding to focus on low-carbon energy and environmental activities. Its portfolio also included Managem in mining, Sonasid in steel, Sopriam in automotive distribution, Optorg in industrial distribution, Onapar in real estate, and a range of financial, technology, consulting, and business-services companies. In 2009, food industry activities formed the largest reported share of the group's turnover, followed by distribution, mining, growth businesses, and financial activities. The food portfolio included Centrale Laitière, Fromagerie des Doukkala, Cosumar, Lesieur Cristal, Bimo, Sotherma, CMB Plastique, and seafood businesses. Financial holdings included Attijariwafa Bank and Agma Lahlou-Tazi. ONA also supported cultural activity through Fondation ONA, which promoted Moroccan and international art and artists. In March 2010, ONA announced a strategic reorganization and merger with Societe Nationale d'Investissement. Both companies were delisted from the Casablanca Stock Exchange, while the combined structure was redesigned as an investment company with more autonomous subsidiaries. ONA was closed as a separate entity on December 31, 2010, and its activities were integrated into Societe Nationale d'Investissement. Former food and agribusiness holdings were later sold or otherwise reorganized.
- 2010
Merger and delisting announced
[1]ONA announces its merger with Societe Nationale d'Investissement and the withdrawal of both companies from the Casablanca Stock Exchange.
- 2010
ONA is dissolved
[1]On December 31, ONA's activities are integrated into Societe Nationale d'Investissement.
- 2005
Telecommunications and energy become growth areas
[1]ONA acquires Maroc Connect and launches Nareva Holding for low-carbon energy and environmental activities.
- 1990
Marjane retail expansion begins
[1]ONA opens the Marjane Bouregreg hypermarket, marking its entry into modern Moroccan retail.
- 1988
Participation in 2M
[1]ONA invests in 2M, described in the reference material as the first pay-television service in the Arab world.
- 1986
Expansion into edible oils and banking
[1]ONA acquires shares in Lesieur Afrique and takes a major position in Banque Commerciale du Maroc.
- 1980
King Hassan II becomes principal shareholder
[1]King Hassan II acquires Paribas's shares in ONA, changing the group's ownership structure.
- 1934
Omnium Nord-Africain is formed
[1]The company is renamed Omnium Nord-Africain and takes on holding-company characteristics through entry into mining.
- 1928
General Motors agency begins in Morocco
[1]The predecessor company becomes General Motors' exclusive agent in Morocco, a role it retains until 1945.
- 1919
Compagnie Générale de Transport et de Tourisme is established
[1]Jean Épinat creates the predecessor enterprise from which ONA's corporate history developed.
Products and positioning
A Moroccan national conglomerate focused on strategic-sector ownership, portfolio diversification, market leadership, and the development of businesses connected to Morocco, the Maghreb, and Africa.
Dairy products
Centrale Laitière
A major dairy business within ONA's food portfolio, associated with the group's emphasis on consumer staples and Moroccan food production. The business was later sold to Danone in 2012, after ONA had ceased to exist as a separate group.
Sugar
Cosumar
ONA's sugar-sector holding, representing the group's participation in a staple-food industry and in agricultural and industrial value chains serving the Moroccan market.
Edible oils
Lesieur Cristal
An edible-oils business held within ONA's food and consumer-products portfolio. The reference material records its later sale to Sofiprotéol in 2012.
Hypermarket retail · 1990
Marjane
ONA's principal hypermarket retail format. Its development began with the opening of Marjane Bouregreg in 1990 and formed a central part of the group's distribution activities.
Supermarket retail
Acima
A retail outlet and shopping-center business included in ONA's distribution portfolio alongside Marjane. The reference material does not provide additional format, launch, or store-count details.
Mining
Groupe Managem
ONA's mining operator in Morocco and Africa, representing the group's exposure to natural resources and the mining value chain.
Telecommunications · 2005
Inwi
The telecommunications business that emerged from Maroc Connect and Wana. ONA acquired Maroc Connect in 2005; the business later operated under the Inwi name.
Renewable energy and environmental services · 2005
Nareva Holding
A growth platform launched by ONA in 2005 and focused on low-carbon energy and environmental activities.
Banking and financial services
Attijariwafa Bank
A major financial holding in ONA's portfolio. The group reached the banking sector through its position in Banque Commerciale du Maroc, which later formed part of the Attijariwafa Bank group.
Brand decisions
2010
Merger with Societe Nationale d'InvestissementM&ABackground
ONA and Societe Nationale d'Investissement announced a strategic reorganization intended to transform the combined structure from a listed conglomerate into an investment company.
Action taken
The companies merged, withdrew from the Casablanca Stock Exchange, and integrated ONA's activities into the successor investment-company structure. Agribusiness branches were disposed of as part of the reorganization.
Aftermath
ONA ceased to operate as a separate entity on December 31, 2010. The new structure was intended to give subsidiaries greater autonomy in managing their businesses.
2005
Launch of Nareva HoldingStrategyBackground
ONA identified low-carbon energy and environmental services as a growth area outside its established food, distribution, mining, and financial businesses.
Action taken
The group launched Nareva Holding as a platform specializing in energy and environmental activities.
Aftermath
Nareva became one of the group's listed growth-driver activities in the years preceding the 2010 reorganization.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ona-group · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled