Swiss food giant Nestlé has opened a new state-of-the-art factory in Nigeria’s Ogun state.
The NGN12 billion (approx. €57 million) Flowergate factory will be primarily dedicated to the production of the company’s Maggi branded range.
The 12 hectare facility—Nestlé’s 27th in Africa—will offer jobs to 180 people and indirect jobs to hundreds more.
Africa currently brings in three per cent of Nestlé’s sales and the company’s aim is to double that by 2020. The company plans on investing $1 billion in Africa over the next two years in new plants in areas such as Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
The new facility will double Nestlé’s production of culinary products in Nigeria, as well as meeting growing demand for Maggi products in other countries in the Central and West Africa region. The factory also has potential for the production of other Nestlé products and future expansion.
Commenting, Nestlé’s chief executive officer Paul Bulcke said: “Nestlé has been operationally present in Nigeria for 50 years, bringing meaningful value to society at large by sourcing locally, creating new local employment, offering nutritious products and helping in the further development of the region.
“By opening our new facility in Ogun State we will be closer to our consumers and can better adapt our products to their needs and preferences. This latest investment is proof of our commitment to Africa in which we will invest CHF1 billion over the next two years.”
Martin Woolnough, managing director of Nestlé Nigeria, added: “Today is a major milestone in the history of Nestlé in Nigeria and we are proud to see that our operations in Nigeria are not only measurable in length of time, but more importantly, also by our positive impact on our stakeholders and our positive visible impact on the Nigerian industrial landscape.”
Existing Nestlé facilities in Nigeria include the Agbara Manufacturing Complex and the Otta distribution centre. Employing around 3,300 people, Nestlé Nigeria brands include Milo, Nido, Pure Life, Nescafé and Cerelac.
Nestlé Nigeria operates under the company’s Central and West Africa Region umbrella, which includes eight factories and employs around 5,500 people.
Nestlé has operations in 27 African countries. Its largest single market is currently South Africa, followed by Nigeria.
