The global provider of solutions for bakery, patisserie and chocolate, Puratos has opened four new African subsidiaries. The company aims to further establish a local presence in its key countries, offering ingredients, local support to create the best-finished goods and training for its customers.
With four new African subsidiaries, the aim is to further establish a local presence in key countries to strengthen the customer relationship, localise production as well as develop new products and concepts using local raw materials.
The accomplishment of years of business partnerships
Puratos aims to reduce food imports and its ecological footprint while contributing to food security in Africa by capitalizing on the processing of local quality ingredients.
The subsidiaries are joint ventures with local partners in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Nigeria and will help Puratos to further develop the booming African market.
Olivier Tilkens, Regional Director Africa at Puratos, comments: “We are excited about opening new subsidiaries in Africa. These joint ventures will enable us to meet customers’ growing demands for high-quality products. We are proud to deepen our presence across the continent and to continue to invest in existing collaborations that have been so welcoming to us for more than two decades.”
Puratos Kenya activities started on January 1st, 2020 and will cover the Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ugandan markets, taking over activities from Puratos’ previous distributor Papyrus. In order to capture growth opportunities in East Africa, other investments will follow, including a production facility for local manufacturing of patisserie and bakery ingredients in Kenya.
Puratos Nigeria will officially start its activities in July 2020. It is the result of a joint venture between Puratos and the Adegunwa family who is already very active in Nigeria in various food manufacturing and distribution activities. The upcoming production facility will ease the penetration of Puratos’ bakery, patisserie and chocolate range in the largest African market. Puratos Nigeria will also invest in an innovation centre which will train customers and develop innovative and tailor-made products.
Puratos Ivory Coast is a joint venture in partnership with the shareholders of Sabimex who has been Puratos’ distributor for over 6 years in the country. It will locally produce Patisserie and Bakery powders. Because the country is the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, it will also invest in a chocolate production facility. Puratos Ivory Coast will be in operation on April 1st, 2020.
Puratos officially incorporated a new company in Ethiopia on December 9, 2019. The company called Puratos Ethiopia and will cover the Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea markets. Puratos Ethiopia is a joint venture with Dachi Manufacturing PLC, an Ethiopian based company, already active in the manufacturing and distribution of bakery and patisserie ingredients in Ethiopia for 2 years.
