Zeenab Foods Limited has invited farmers, agricultural cooperatives, commodity aggregators, merchants and established agribusinesses to submit expressions of interest for the supply of eight agricultural commodities across Nigeria.

The company said the exercise would enable it to identify and prequalify suppliers capable of providing agricultural produce that meets its quality requirements and delivering agreed quantities to designated locations.

According to a procurement notice issued by the company, the commodities required are paddy rice, sorghum, millet, beans, sesame seeds, dried split ginger, cocoa beans and soybeans.

The proposed supply arrangements cover delivery locations in Abuja, Kano and the Sagamu/Ikenne area of Ogun State.

Zeenab Foods said successful applicants could be considered for spot purchases, seasonal supply arrangements, framework agreements and longer-term procurement contracts, depending on the company’s requirements.

Company targets farmers, cooperatives and aggregators

The invitation is open to different categories of participants in the agricultural commodity supply chain.

These include individual farmers, registered farmer cooperatives, commodity merchants, aggregators and agricultural companies with the capacity to source and deliver produce.

According to Zeenab Foods, the prequalification exercise is intended to establish a pool of suppliers whose operational capabilities can be assessed before commercial engagements are considered.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate their ability to supply the commodities they identify and provide information about their current stock and future delivery capacity.

The company is particularly interested in the quantities suppliers can make available immediately, as well as their estimated weekly and monthly supply volumes.

The information will help determine whether prospective suppliers can meet procurement requirements over different periods.

Eight agricultural commodities listed

The procurement notice identifies eight commodities for which suppliers may submit expressions of interest.

They are paddy rice, sorghum, millet, beans, sesame seeds, dried split ginger, cocoa beans and soybeans.

Interested businesses may apply to supply one or more of the listed products.

The commodities serve different segments of Nigeria’s agricultural and food-processing industries.

Rice, sorghum, millet and beans are important food crops, while soybeans are used in food production, animal feed and other processing activities.

Sesame seeds, ginger and cocoa beans also form part of agricultural trading and processing value chains.

The company said all commodities supplied under any subsequent agreement must meet its applicable quality specifications.

Delivery centres in Abuja, Kano and Ogun

Zeenab Foods identified three geographical areas for the delivery of agricultural commodities.

The designated locations are Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, Kano in Kano State, and Sagamu/Ikenne in Ogun State.

According to the company, successful suppliers may be required to deliver to any of these locations, depending on the terms of individual purchase orders or supply agreements.

Specific warehouse addresses and delivery instructions will be communicated after the relevant procurement arrangements have been confirmed.

Prospective suppliers must indicate their preferred delivery locations when submitting applications.

They are also required to provide information about their logistics and transportation arrangements.

These details are intended to establish whether applicants can move the proposed quantities from their farms, warehouses or aggregation centres to the designated destinations.

Applicants to provide registration, supply records

The procurement process requires interested suppliers to submit information about their businesses and operational capacity.

Applicants must provide their company or business name, corporate profile, registration documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission and Tax Identification Number.

They are also expected to submit their business address, telephone number and email contact.

For each commodity offered, suppliers must indicate the quantity available for immediate delivery and their estimated weekly and monthly supply capacity.

The notice also requests details of the state and location where commodities originate, together with the location of the supplier’s warehouse or aggregation centre.

Previous commodity supply experience is another requirement.

Applicants are asked to provide information about major customers they have supplied, where applicable, and evidence demonstrating their ability to mobilise or aggregate the quantities offered.

Details of transportation arrangements and preferred delivery destinations must also be included.

A bank reference or other evidence of financial capacity may be requested where necessary.

The company said the information would be used to assess prospective suppliers before any commercial arrangements are considered.

Prequalification does not guarantee contracts

Zeenab Foods explained that successful prequalification would not automatically result in the award of a supply contract.

Instead, shortlisted suppliers may be invited to participate in different procurement arrangements based on the company’s commercial requirements.

These could include spot purchases, monthly or seasonal supplies, framework agreements, annual contracts and other mutually agreed long-term arrangements.

The company said the terms of each transaction would be negotiated separately.

Such terms would include the quantity to be supplied, price, payment arrangements, quality specifications, delivery schedule and destination.

Agreed conditions would subsequently be documented in an official purchase order or supply agreement issued by Zeenab Foods.

The procurement notice stressed that submitting an expression of interest does not constitute a contract or commitment by the company to purchase commodities.

Only shortlisted and successfully prequalified applicants will be contacted for further engagement.

How interested suppliers can apply

Interested farmers, cooperatives, aggregators and agricultural companies are required to submit an expression of interest with the heading:

“EOI FOR THE SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES TO ZEENAB FOODS LIMITED”

Each application should identify the commodity or commodities being offered, available quantity, estimated monthly supply capacity, commodity origin and preferred delivery location.

Applicants should also include the required business registration documents, operational profile, supply experience and logistics information.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Procurement Department
Zeenab Foods Limited
Plot 252, Victor Ayemere Street
Cadastral Zone, Idu Industrial Area
Abuja, Nigeria

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +234 912 222 3978

The company did not specify a submission deadline in the notice.

Prospective applicants may therefore need to contact the procurement department to confirm the application window and any additional documentation requirements.

Zeenab Foods reiterated that the exercise is intended to identify qualified potential suppliers and that any subsequent purchases will depend on separate commercial agreements.

The procurement invitation provides an opportunity for agricultural businesses to present their supply capacity for consideration, but participation does not guarantee selection or a future transaction.