Here's the latest in ESM's regular series, Notes From Africa, which brings you the latest retail, consumer goods and food and beverage stories from across the African continent. Past editions can be found here.
In this week's report:
Côte d'Ivoire: Government Unveils Fruit And Vegetable Processing Unit
The Côte d'Ivoire government has commissioned a fruit and vegetable processing plant in N’douci in the Agnéby-Tiassa region. Named Trafrule, the unit saw a total investment of CFA 6.3 billion (€9.6 million). It has an hourly production capacity of 15 tonnes of tomato concentrate, five tonnes of pineapple juice and 10 tonnes of mango juice. The factory will depend on the local production network for its raw material supplies and will therefore offer a secure outlet for farmers. According to the authorities, the unit should generate 150 direct jobs and 750 indirect jobs. Côte d'Ivoire is the largest exporter of fresh mangoes from West Africa and the largest African supplier of bananas.
Malawi: Milk Processing Unit To Be Launched By August
A new milk processing plant is due to be launched by August in Blantyre, Malawi's second largest city. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 144 tonnes of milk powder. According to local media reports, it should provide direct market access to more than 5,000 dairy farmers in the region and create 200 jobs.
Egypt: Elmenus Receives $10 Million Boost For Expansion
Egyptian food delivery business Elmenus has just raised $10 million (€8.43 million) as part of its expansion in the local market. With this amount, the company hopes to expand to more cities in Egypt and personalise the ordering and delivery experience for its customers. It aims to strengthen its presence in the food delivery market, which is also occupied by Spanish delivery startup Glovo. Founded in 2011 by Amir Allam, Elmenus works with a network of over 12,000 restaurants across Egypt
Kenya: Fish Processing Plant To Be Set Up In Kakamega
Kenya's Kakamega County has recently opened a new fish processing unit. The $1 million (€840,000) facility has a processing capacity of 30 tonnes of fish per day. It is expected to provide a market for fish harvested by farmers in Kakamega and Western counties as well as the entire Lake Region Economic Bloc. According to local media reports, the products will not only be destined for export but also satisfy growing local demand for fish and seafood.
Mozambique: QBV Receives Support From AgDevCo
In Mozambique, the banana company Quinta da Bela Vista Limitada (QBV) has received a capital injection of $3 million (€2.53 million) from the UK-based social impact investor AgDevCo. This support should help the company to expand its irrigated banana estate, located in the Boane area, from 128 hectares to 260 hectares over the next two years. The company plans to take advantage of economic opportunities relating to the high demand on export markets. QBV, which was established in 2016, currently employs more than 240 people.
Kenya: Kitui County Launches New Fruit Processing Plant
Kenya's Kitui County has launched a new $158,000 (€133,000) fruit processing plant. According to local media reports, the plant has a capacity to process five tonnes of fruit per hour, such as mango and tomato. The raw materials will be converted into tomato sauce and paste, as well as fruit juices and purées. The plant is expected to mitigate post-harvest losses, leverage value addition and increase farmer profitability, providing local entrepreneurs with a ready market for their produce.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Espoir Olodo. For more A-Brands news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
