Nestlé-IDH partnership to boost sourcing practices in Central and Western Africa

June 16, 20200

Multinational food and beverage giant Nestlé has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, as part of the Grown Sustainably in Africa (GSA) programme.

The three-year partnership aims to support 25,000 farmers and 50 SMEs, as well as open up new markets for them in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, increasing employment and food security.

According to Nestlé, the collaboration seeks to develop and empower these farmers and SMEs to help Nestlé meet its goal of boosting its responsibly and regionally-produced raw materials used in the local production of its Maggi, Milo and Cerelac brands from 60% to 70% by 2022.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the agricultural sector helps to support food security and eradicate hunger in the region, contributing about 15% of total GDP. However, based on current trends, the food production system in sub-Saharan Africa will only meet 13% of its food demand by 2050.

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Source: Biz Community, May 2020

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Concerns rise over annual importation of 700,000mt of sugar into Nigeria

January 31, 20200

The Federal Government has raised concern over the annual importation of about 700,000 metric tonnes (MT) of sugar into the country despite the abundance of the resource locally.

The Minister Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, who was on a facility tour of the Flour Mills Nigeria Plc Sunti Golden Sugar Estates, in Mokwa, Niger State, stressed the government’s readiness to support the private sector in ensuring Nigeria achieved self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The move comes against the backdrop of the implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, aimed at attracting over $1 billion annually in local and foreign direct investments, and creating an estimated 107,000 jobs over the first 10-year period.

The Minister said efforts by the private sector to boost sugar production would go a long way in reducing the level of unemployment, saying: “Nigeria is working towards being self-sufficient in sugar, we have been able to do it in cement, and we are trying to do it in sugar.

“As time goes on, we will not import sugar anymore; we will produce more than enough for our use and possibly export. We also want to take advantage of the Africa Developmental Free Trade Area Agreement, so that we can export to other African countries,” Adebayo said.

However the Chairman Suntai Golden Sugar Estates, John Coumantaros, disclosed that it has invested about N64billion into production in the country, and still intends to invest an additional N34billion in infrastructural development for the host community and the factory.

He disclosed that Nigeria consumes about 1.3million MT, while the Suntai and Savanah Farms produce about 600,000MT, meaning, the country imports 700,000MT of sugar annually.

The Chairman disclosed that added that the company plans to engage over 60,000 Nigerians in direct and indirect employment over the next 10 years, adding that “with about 17,000 hectares of land they would be producing about 100,000-150,000MT of sugar when the land is fully developed, we currently produce for the local market.”

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Source: The Guardian, January 2020

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Exhibitors Express Confidence In Nigerian Market at Food & Beverage West Africa

June 25, 20190

Investors across the globe have expressed confidence in the Nigerian Food and Beverage market

and have shown high readiness to invest in the segment of the economy

This became apparent at the recent Food & Beverage West Africa Exhibition in Lagos organised by United Kingdom based firm, BtoB Events.

The three- day event had in attendance over 150 Food & Beverage exhibitors and 5000 visitors from within and outside the country, all of whom were exposed to trends, opportunities and innovations in the sector, in addition to the business and networking windows open to them.

The Food & Beverage sector is reported to be the largest segment of the Nigerian manufacturing industry estimated at €16.5bn in aggregate output and generating 1 5.m jobs.

According to the Association of Fast Food and Confectioners of Nigeria, the Nigeria food industry alone is worth over one N1trillion.

Managing Director of B to B Events, Mr. Jamie Hill, explained that the huge prospects and positive outlook presented by the sector informed the choice of Nigeria’s venue for the fair coupled with investors interest to establish their foothold in the country.

Mr Hill revealed that Nigerian businesses made up 40 per cent of the over 150 exhibitors, commenting: “This will enable local SMEs to benefit from the annual platform and showcase what they have to offer alongside the local and international power houses across sectors. By offering local businesses 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.”

Also present at the exhibition, was a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State, Bimbo Ashiru, who saw the fair as an avenue to draw foreign direct investment (FDI), into the country and promote the local content, most especially as Nigeria looks to be among the largest economies in year 2020. He has however urged government to put more efforts in making the business environment friendly for investors.

“What we need is the enabling environment from the government for businesses to thrive. Once this is there, I can tell you the sky is the starting point because Nigeria is full of opportunities.”

Talking about the ease of doing business today, we have moved from over 170 in global ranking to 146.

The target is to probably move to 80 or 70 and there is no reason why we can not achieve that. All we need to do is to create that environment.”

Food & Beverage West Africa also enjoyed wide sponsorship from local and foreign companies including Just Food, NASCO, Restaurant and Food Services Proprietor Association of Nigeria (REFSPAN), National Association of Supermarket Owners of Nigeria (NASON) and SPAR, amongst others.

Original source can be found here.

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Anticipation builds ahead of Lagos’ new international food and drinks trade show

June 13, 20190

Food and Beverage West Africa is expecting more than 5,000 visitors for 150 exhibitors

Food and Beverage West Africa, a new international food and drinks trade exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria, will create new opportunities for local businesses.

Food & Beverage Shows and Exhibitions Lagos, Nigeria , West Africa
Owners and people working across the food retail, distribution, catering and hospitality sectors can meet with representatives from more than 150 exhibitor companies from 20 countries at the show which opens its doors from June 18th to 20th 2019. With free admission, more than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend the three-day event at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island.

Nigerian businesses are well represented, accounting for a third of exhibitors! Food and beverage businesses from Benin, Morocco, South Africa and Kenya are also participating. Additionally, there will be national pavilions for Egypt, Denmark, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, with exhibitors also travelling from as far away as New Zealand, China, the Philippines, the Middle East, and from across Europe.

The exhibition organisers is the team from BtoB Events, who had a great success with the launch of the Beauty West Africa exhibition last November. Later on this year, they are also launching the West Africa Automotive Show which is also in Lagos. BtoB Events’ Managing Director Jamie Hill remark: “Food and Beverage West Africa is the premier exhibition dedicated to West Africa’s food and beverage industry. “The exhibition will bring a host of guests and exhibitors from around the world together under one roof, to celebrate and explore future opportunities within the Food & Beverage industry. Guests can discuss opportunities face to face and start to build those all-important business relationships for future success.” Mr Hill wants to emphasise the importance of the role of local and regional businesses, with a dedicated SME Zone showcasing Nigerian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “This will enable 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.”

Attendees will also have an opportunity to find out more about trade associations such as REFSPAN (Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria) and NASON (the National Association of Supermarket Owners of Nigeria) who are partners for the show. REFSPAN, which until recently has been known as AFFCON, changed its name to reflect its expanding membership from the fast food sector to restaurants in general and food service companies. Members include businesses such as Sweet Sensation, Mama Cass, and Chicken Republic, and it is offering free application forms to visitors to the exhibition.

Several other trader associations are also partnering the event: Eziukwu Road Traders Association, Onitsha Main Markets Traders Union (OMMATU), Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association (OMMTA) Onitsha, Balogun Business Association Nigeria, Oke-Arin Trades’ Association, Lagos, and the Association of Food Vendors in Nigeria (AFVN).
The event’s gold sponsors are Just Foods, West Africa’s leading provider of quality, global food equipment brand, and NASCO, an export and wholesale company based in the UK. Nigeria’s largest hypermarket business, SPAR, is the retail partner.

AgroNigeria is a media partner for the show. Its Executive Director Mrs Idongesit Mbaram described the importance of the event: “There has been a lot of concentration on the agricultural sector by the Federal Government and this concentration is cutting across every value chain in the agricultural sector. So definitely, food and beverage retailing is not the way it was five years ago. More investors and brands are coming up, thereby resulting in keen competition and where there is competition, innovation thrives.” The online community inspiring and motivating food entrepreneurs, FoodPrenuers Hub, has endorsed the show. Olushola Oladejo said: “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.”

While the show is fast approaching maximum capacity, BtoB Events is still inviting applications from exhibitors and potential sponsors who can find out more about the show on the FAB website, https://www.fab-westafrica.com/ or by contacting 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.

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International food and drink businesses drawn to new trade show in Lagos

June 12, 20190

More than 150 exhibitors are set to participate in the Food and Beverage West Africa exhibition

Local food and beverage industry businesses will have an important opportunity to meet international F&B companies at a new exhibition in Lagos.

More than 150 exhibitors are participating in the Food and Beverage West Africa (FAB) show which opens its doors from June 18th to 20th at the Landmark Centre on Victoria Island. Over a third of exhibitors are from Nigeria however, more than 20 countries will be represented, with Benin, Morocco, South Africa and Kenya among the participating African countries.

Dedicated country pavilions will be found for exhibitors from Egypt, Denmark, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In addition, exhibitors are expected from the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and the UAE), Europe (Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and the UK) and New Zealand, China, and the Phil

ippines.

The show organiser, BtoB Events, is keen to promote the role of local small and medium sized enterprises in the food and beverage industry, Keen to emphasise this, they have organised a dedicated zone at the hub of the FAB exhibition specifically for Nigeria’s SMEs. BtoB Events Managing Director Jamie Hill explains: “We regard Food & Beverage West Africa as the premier exhibition dedicated to West Africa’s food and beverage industry. The exhibition will bring a host of guests and exhibitors from around the world together under one roof, to celebrate and explore future opportunities within the F&B industry. Guests can discuss opportunities face to face and start to build those all-important business relationships for future success.”

The exhibition will host a specific 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. “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,” explains Mr Hill. BtoB Events hopes the show will encourage greater recognition about the growing independence of the market with the show creating new business opportunities to support businesses and ultimately help reduce imports.
“Whilst Nigeria is currently doing a great job in reducing its dependence on food importation, Food & Beverage West Africa will provide a unique opportunity for local producers to source the latest technology across the food production sector from ingredients to machinery,” says Mr Hill. “Many international companies are looking to move into the market for the first time to initially find partners, and then in the longer term look at establishing a manufacturing presence in the near future. We want FA to provide that platform so that food and drink businesses in Nigeria and West Africa can benefit from the exchange of ideas and trade.”

Just Food, the region’s leading provider of quality, global food equipment brands, is a Gold Sponsor of FAB. JustFood’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tunde Ogunrinde, explains why his company is participating: “We have business in Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast & Senegal and will be in 16 West Africa countries within next 5 years; FAB allows us to gauge/propel market entry location by attendance levels from international markets somewhat.”

Another of the show’s partners is AgroNigeria, “a crucial stakeholder in the agricultural sector.” Its Executive Director, Mrs Idongesit Mbaram, comments: “AgroNigeria is supporting FAB because the event seeks to promote and project local and international brands. The ultimate objective here is to stimulate and sustain an economic revitalization in Nigeria leveraging the agricultural sector.The world is now a global village where companies and corporations compete and improve on themselves. With an international presence at FAB West Africa, local businesses will feel the importance of the event and also have the opportunity to examine innovations being made at international levels. Most importantly, connecting with key global trends is vital.”
Asked why international visitors should invest in West Africa and Nigeria, Mrs Mbaram says: “To quote the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Rajiv Raj Shah, ‘African agriculture is at a defining moment.’ It has been highlighted by so many other scholars and international stakeholders that Nigeria is at the middle of it all, not only because of the availability of the market but also the availability of the resources and the willingness of its people to do business. This is more than enough reason for any investor to be bullish about Nigeria.”

The online community FoodPreneurs Hub is another of the show’s partners. Its spokeswoman Olushola Oladejo says they are participating because: “FAB West Africa is giving food entrepreneurs like us, a great opportunity to showcase our businesses to the world at the same time partner with international businesses.
“International representation is important and of great value because It means we can partner and connect with international markets and grow our businesses across the shores of this country.”

While the show is fast approaching capacity, BtoB Events is still inviting applications from exhibitors who 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.

Alternatively, WhatsApp ‘PRESS’ to +2348183818456.

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Food and Beverage West Africa to showcase latest international innovations

June 5, 20190

New trade show launches later this month with 150 local and international exhibitors

The Food and Beverage West Africa exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria, is expecting to see more than 5,000 attendees from the industry over three days.

FAB West Africa is free to attend taking place at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, from June 18th to 20th

. Visitors will be able to discuss business opportunities and see the latest in F&B developments from over 150 exhibitors, both local and international.

Thousands of products, many of which will be showcased for the first time in the region, will be on display. Besides finding new products, attendees will also be able to source new and additional suppliers as well as keep up to date with new industry trends from around the world.

FAB is organised by BtoB Events. Btob Events Managing Director Jamie Hill explains: “Food and Beverage West Africa is the premier exhibition dedicated to West Africa’s food and beverage industry. The exhibition will bring a host of guests and exhibitors from around the world together under one roof, to celebrate and explore future opportunities within the Food & Beverage industry. Guests can discuss opportunities face-to-face and start to build those all-important business relationships for future success. Essentially anybody who is involved in the procurement of foodstuffs will be in attendance from fast food chains to supermarkets, retail stores to catering companies.”

As a business-to-business platform, the organisers of FAB have seen a particular interest from companies wanting to meet distributors from across the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). Overseas exhibitors are also hoping to meet with a full representation of the Nigerian F&B industry, says Mr. Hill. “International companies are typically looking for importers of food and beverage products. The exhibition will give exhibitors the opportunity to demonstrate and give examples of their new and innovative products. Visitors will have the chance to see first-hand what to expect within the food and drinks sectors over the next few months.”

Event Gold Sponsor NASON

Nigerian businesses make up a third of the confirmed exhibitors. The exhibition even has a special zone for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “The ‘Made in Nigeria SME Zone’ will enable 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.” One of the show’s partners welcoming the focus within the SME sector is AgroNigeria. It’s Executive Director Mrs Idongesit Mbaram comments: “As a matter of fact, businesses under the F&B value chain should see the FAB West Africa as a rare opportunity to connect with suppliers, distributors, manufacturers and to build strong business relationships with clients from across Nigeria, neighbouring West African countries and around the world. Due to the almost steep nature of the agricultural sector, it is expected that an event like this will create an avenue where local small and medium scale agricultural value chain establishments will come into contact with bigger corporations and do business.”

With exhibitors from over 20 different countries being represented over the three-day event, there will also be country pavilions and individual exhibition stands.
Just Food, the region’s leading provider of quality, global food equipment brands, is a Gold Sponsor of FAB. JustFood’s Chief Executive Officer Tunde Ogunrinde expects that visitors will want to engage in

Show Partner REFSPAN

practical discussions, see live demonstration of products, plus benefit from discounted offers on products. Attendees should make the most of good networking opportunities, with the “synergy between businesses,” he recommends. “FAB is a great place to meet various key stakeholders and decision makers in the food & beverage industry.”

Visitors will also be able to find out about the benefits of joining a trade association as a number are partnering the event. One of FAB’s partners is REFSPAN, the Restaurant and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria. REFSPAN was previously known as AFFCON but recently changed its name to reflect the growing interest of other relevant business owners in the sector as prospective members. FAB attendees interested in joining REFSPAN should visit its stand for a free application form.
FAB is free to attend, and with so many visitors expected, the organisers are encouraging attendees to pre-register online for free at https://www.fab-westafrica.com/pre-registertoday-online/
Alternatively, WhatsApp ‘’PRESS” to +2348183818456.

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Food & Beverage West Africa will showcase opportunities in Nigeria

June 4, 20190

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.

Tag: food and beverage