NIGERIA – BUA Foods PLC, a prominent Nigerian food manufacturing company, has announced an ambitious plan to enhance its pasta production capacity by 400,000 tonnes per year at its facility in Nigeria.
This expansion will increase the plant’s total output to 900,000 tonnes annually, a significant rise from its current capacity of 500,000 tonnes.
The initiative is part of BUA Foods’ broader strategy to address food shortages and support the country’s development.
Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of BUA Foods, recently emphasized the importance of this expansion.
“Our manufacturing capacity expansion will continue to enable us to extend the boundaries of what we can produce and deliver, supporting our nation’s development by providing solutions to ongoing food shortages,” he remarked.
Rabiu also noted that the new lines of long-cut pasta would allow for innovative product offerings while maintaining high-quality standards.
To facilitate this growth, BUA Foods has partnered with Fava SpA, an Italian company, to supply essential manufacturing equipment.
Additionally, the company has engaged Martini srl from Italy for packaging solutions.
This strategic collaboration ensures that the expanded production meets local and international standards.
In conjunction with this pasta plant expansion, BUA Foods has taken steps to bolster its grain storage capabilities.
The company recently signed an agreement with Cukurova Silo from Turkey to enhance its grain storage by 100,000 tonnes.
Rabiu highlighted the significance of this development: “The additional 100,000 tonnes of grain storage capacity will enable us to meet the growing demand for our products while strengthening the backbone of our food processing operations by ensuring a reliable and consistent supply of raw materials.”
Earlier this year, BUA Foods partnered with Turkish flour milling equipment manufacturer Imas to construct four new wheat flour mills.
These mills will collectively have a daily capacity of 3,200 tonnes and are expected to increase BUA’s annual wheat flour milling capacity to 2.5 million tonnes.
This move is crucial for addressing food security challenges in Nigeria, home to more than 230 million people.
The expansion comes as Nigeria’s demand for pasta and other staple foods grows. Other companies have recently made similar investments in Africa’s pasta sector.
For instance, Alapala Group’s subsidiary AXOR has contracted MENA Food Chad to build Chad’s first pasta factory, which is anticipated to begin operations by mid-2025.
This facility will produce 2,000 kilograms of pasta per hour and aim to enhance food security in Chad.
Marco Mistroni, CEO of AXOR, expressed optimism about the project: “This factory will not only ensure the availability of high-quality pasta products for the people of Chad and neighboring regions but will also stimulate local economic growth and employment.”
The factory’s construction aligns with Alapala’s mission to expand its African footprint while contributing positively to local economies.
As BUA Foods continues its expansion efforts in Nigeria and beyond, it aims to increase production, foster job creation, and enhance food security across the region.
With these developments, BUA Foods is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s food manufacturing landscape while addressing pressing challenges regarding food availability and quality.
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