Nestlé Professional, the Out of Home business division of Nestlé Nigeria, continues to empower food vendors across Nigeria with its “Business of Food” workshop, recently held in Sokoto.
Through this initiative, now in its eighth iteration, Nestlé Professional has enhanced and supported over 1,900 food enterprises across seven states, providing essential skills and knowledge to improve operations and increase profitability.
Canteens, grillers, Maishais, and bukas are among the fastest-growing sectors in Nigeria, vital for serving low-income communities and providing daily nutrition in busy metropolitan areas. Despite their importance, many food vendors lack the resources needed to thrive.
Nestlé Professional’s empowerment program addresses this by offering networking opportunities, upskilling, and training on crucial aspects of the food industry, such as menu planning, customer engagement, culinary techniques, and, most importantly, proper hygiene practices.
Mrs. Funmi Osineye, Business Manager for Nestlé Professional in Nigeria, emphasized: “We are thrilled to bring this ‘Business of Food’ workshop to Sokoto because we recognize that the business of food extends beyond preparing delicious meals. It involves a focus on nutrition, pricing, presentation, taste, and hygiene. Our goal is to support food vendors of all sizes by providing them with the knowledge and tools derived from our global insights and local experience. We are confident this will foster lasting change and growth within the local food vendor community, as witnessed in previous locations.”
A highlight of the half-day training session was Chef Faridah’s workshop on preparing Masa and Miyan Duka, dishes that capture the essence of northern Nigerian culinary traditions. Additionally, a fun cooking competition saw teams “Chicken” and “Star” vie to create the tastiest spaghetti dish.
Mrs. Osineye reassured participants of Nestlé Professional’s ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and success of food vendors in Nigeria: “We aim to make more possible by uplifting the local food industry, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating a positive impact in communities.”
Nestlé Professional’s continued dedication to empowering food vendors reflects its broader commitment to strengthening local economies and supporting entrepreneurship across Nigeria.
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