Chefs at Nestle forum decry high cost of food items, seek govt support
Chefs, event planners and others in confectionery business have lamented hike in food item prices, saying it has brought about low patronage of their businesses.
They said the hike in almost every item used in preparing meals has skyrocketed, adversely affecting their businesses, and forcing some them to contemplate folding up.
The chefs stated this during Nestlé Nigeria’s Business of Food Roadshow in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. It was meant to deliver food education to over 300 canteen and food vendors in collaboration with the Association of Caterers and Food Vendors.
Speaking on behalf of other participants, one of the chefs and Head Cook of Jollof&Co, Nigeria, Oge Ibekwe, who lauded the idea of gathering people in the cooking business, noted that the move would teach cooks the precepts of preparing healthy meals.
She, however, said: “Season is not too friendly for us because food items have skyrocketed and when you are doing the food business and you keep changing prices every day, it makes people wonder the level of seriousness. The prices are not smiling at all.”
Speaking on the event, Manager, Nestlé Professional Nigeria, Funmi Osineye, said Business of Food workshop was an initiative developed in response to the need to provide the support micro, small and medium scale food vendors need to scale their businesses.
She lamented that food vendors and caterers, who help to meet nutrition needs of busy urban communities every day, do not always get the support they need to build successful businesses.
She said: “We are also conscious of our responsibility as the Good Food Good Life Company, to contribute towards increasing knowledge of the role food plays in improving Nutrition, Health, and Wellness.
“We have brought these two objectives together in the Business of Food, which we are hosting in Port-Harcourt today. Our customers and other stakeholders can count on us to consolidate this partnership with caterers and food vendors to ensure better services in the industry.”
