Innovative Food & Drinks Trade Show gets huge local and international endorsement

More than 150 food and drink businesses, both local and international, are set to take part in a new trade show in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Food and Beverage West Africa (FAB) launches on Jun 18th-20th at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island.

The show has secured the backing of many businesses and trade associations which recognise the significant opportunities the show will bring to food and drink retailers, restaurant owners and food distributors in Nigeria and West Africa. Such is the interest, more than 5,000 visitors from the F&B industry are expected to attend the free to-attend three-day event.

Just Food, the region’s leading provider of quality, global food equipment brands, is a Gold Sponsor of FAB West Africa. JustFood’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tunde Ogunrinde, comments: “The food & beverage industry is rapidly growing across West Africa; we are supporting FAB because we want to continue to be part of the growth and this event provides the platform to meet all key stakeholders in one place.”

Other businesses partnering FAB include SPAR, the largest chain of hypermarket stores in Nigeria of which saw sales of €110,781,000 (N44.7 billion) in 2018, and NASCO, a leading export and wholesale company based in the UK.

FoodPreneurs Hub, the online community inspiring and motivating food entrepreneurs, is another partner for the show. Its spokeswoman, Ms Olushola Oladejo, says: “We are supporting FAB West Africa because it is giving food entrepreneurs like us a great opportunity to showcase our businesses to the world at the same time partner with international businesses. “The retailing sector in Nigeria is growing fast, due to Nigeria’s rapid urban developments and the country’s fast-growing middle class. This is a huge opportunity for retailers. Supermarkets are also increasing in their numbers across the country.”

In addition to food and beverage businesses, several trade groups are partnering with the show, including REFSPAN (Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria), NASON (the National Association of Supermarket Owners of Nigeria), the Balogun Business Association, the Oke Arin Traders Association, Onitsha Main Markets Traders Union (OMMATU), Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association (OMMTA), Eziukwu Road Traders Association and the Association of Food Vendors in Nigeria (AFVN).

REFSPAN is a group of major restaurants and food services operators in Nigeria, which includes leading companies such as Sweet Sensation, Mama Cass, and Chicken Republic

Jamie Hill (BtoB MD) with Sponsors NASON

among its membership. It is fully recognised by the Federal and State Government as well as by the public as the umbrella body of quick service restaurant (QSR) diners. REFSPAN has chosen to partner with FAB as the Association identifies the exhibition as an opportunity to show prospective and intending members what REFSPAN stands for and the benefits associated with membership. The Association aims to expose members to an avenue for business networking and will be making free application forms available for businesses who would like to become a member.

“We used to be known as AFFCON, but recently changed our name to REFSPAN to accommodate other relevant business owners in the sector as prospective members,” explains Mrs Kehinde Kamson, President of REFSPAN. “The association has grown and advanced from Lagos into various states of the Federation. The REFSPAN Seal of Membership adorns the entrances of all member companies for not only customer assurance but also as a quality guarantee for products. These features are attractive to our members’ goodwill and stability.”

Another FAB partner NASON has been operating for 25 years as the national association for the supermarket operators across Nigeria. It will be sharing its experience at the exhibition and promoting the benefits of membership. As an umbrella body, NASON’s roles are principally for the purpose of protecting, regulating, supervising all supermarket operators, both locally and foreign owned.

Food and Beverage West Africa is organised by BtoB Events, which also launched the successful Beauty West Africa exhibition in Nigeria last November. Not only are they now launching the FAB event, BtoB is also launching the West Africa Automotive Show in Lagos later this year. BtoB Events’ Managing Director is Jamie Hill, has successfully been launching and running exhibitions in Nigeria for over five years, is keen to promote local businesses.

“The exhibition will host a specific ‘Made in Nigeria’ SME zone, enabling local SMEs to benefit from this annual platform and showcase what they have to offer alongside the local and international power houses across the sector,” says Mr Hill. “By offering local SME’s the opportunity to participate we hope to facilitate their growth in the market and work towards the long-term goal of increasing local production and exports from Nigeria across the region.”

Although the exhibition floor is quickly approaching maximum capacity, BtoB Events is still inviting applications from sponsors and exhibitors. They can find out more about the show on the FAB website, https://www.fab-westafrica.com/ or contact Mr Hill on Jamie.Hill@btob-events.com.

Anyone connected with the food and beverage industry – be that retailers, restaurateurs, bar owners, distributors, import/export businesses or regulatory – can attend the show free of charge. Due to the anticipated level of interest, the show organisers are encouraging visitors to pre-register online for free at https://www.fab-westafrica.com/pre-registertoday-online. Alternatively, WhatsApp ‘PRESS’ to +2348183818456.