Firms partner to boost innovative food production in Nigeria

A Germany-based fragrances and nutrition manufacturer, Symrise AG has entered into strategic partnership with Freddy Hirsch Nigeria towards promoting innovation in food production in Nigeria and other west Africa countries.

Under the new pact, the firms will focus on development, launch and commercialisation of transformational food products, general seasoning, bouillon meat, snacks and instant noodles.

The partnership will also help to harness the flavour technology platform, deliver authentic regional and hyper-local African flavours and ingredients.

Symrise AG, is a global multibillion-dollar fragrances, care, flavour, and nutrition supplier with about 10 per cent market share and presence in more than 100 countries while Freddy Hirsch Nigeria, a leading west African manufacturer of ingredients and flavour with world-class research, development and application laboratories and manufacturing facilities.

The Sub Regional Director, Flavour Africa Middle East, Sofiane Berrahmoune said: “Africa’s projected population of three billion people by 2050 presents a large market for food and nutrition globally. Symrise AG is leading in meeting the needs of its customers and with this strategic partnership.

We can deliver even greater speed to market in Africa. This partnership with Freddy Hirsch Nigeria will give us deeper access to valuable insights about Africa’s food industry.”

Berrahmoune said: “Together we are stronger than ever, committed to co-create with Freddy Hirsch Nigeria, combining the best of our strengths and leveraging our strong global foot-print with our winning local flexibility, market and consumer understanding.”

Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director of Freddy Hirsch Nigeria, Kojo Brifo said: “To achieve our vision of creating authentic African flavour and tastes, we have invested in a research, development and application laboratory and a manufacturing facility with world-class quality management systems, in West Africa, Nigeria. Our partnership with Symrise AG provides an acceleration of flavour development across West Africa and will increase the creativity of customised flavors, help our customers attain speed to market, and enhance their operational agility.”

Increasing urbanisation, rising incomes, a growing regional population, and evolving lifestyle changes are driving the African food flavor and enhancer ingredient market and increasing the consumption of processed foods and beverages.

The Africa food flavour and enhancer market is a small but growing market forecasted to witness a CAGR of 5.12per cent during the forecast period 2020 to 2025. The market is estimated to reach $36 billion in 2022 with Africa expected to play one of the biggest growth opportunities.