By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have commended Rite Foods Limited for its commitment to safe, high-quality manufacturing and its consumer-centric approach that continues to strengthen consumer confidence in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector.

The commendation came during a recent stakeholder forum commemorating World Consumer Rights Day, themed Safe Product, Confident Consumers, organised by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) and hosted by Rite Foods Limited at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Ososa, Ogun State, on Friday.

The forum brought together key stakeholders, including regulators, consumer advocates, and journalists, to discuss the importance of product safety, responsible manufacturing, and consumer awareness in building a more accountable marketplace.

World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting consumers and strengthening trust in products and services.

In his welcome address, Mr Femi Ajileye, General Manager, Operations at Rite Foods Limited, welcomed members of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria and introduced them to the company’s goal of delivering world-class food and beverage products produced with global best practices.

“At Rite Foods, our philosophy is simply to consistently deliver safe, high-quality products that consumers can trust. Our investment in advanced technology, automated processes, and rigorous quality assurance reflects our dedicated commitment to excellence and consumer satisfaction.”

He added that the company remains committed to transparency and stakeholder engagement as part of its broader responsibility to consumers.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, Zonal Coordinator, South-West Zone of the FCCPC, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Tunji Bello, said Rite Foods had demonstrated a strong commitment to consumer protection through transparent operations and adherence to high production standards.

She noted that opening its manufacturing facility to regulators, journalists, and stakeholders further reflects the company’s confidence in its processes.

“Rite Foods has taken a commendable step in reinforcing consumer confidence through quality products and transparent operations. Protecting consumers is a shared responsibility, and engagements like this strengthen collaboration between regulators, industry players, and the media,” she said.

She also highlighted the important role of the media in bridging the gap between producers, regulators, and the public through accurate reporting and public education on consumer rights.

Also speaking, Mrs Tinuola Akinnubi, Deputy Director, Food Regulatory Directorate and Focal Point for Alcohol at NAFDAC, representing the Director General of the agency, Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasised that consumer rights remain a critical pillar of regulatory governance.

According to her, these rights include the right to safety, information, choice, redress, and to be heard. “A protected consumer is a confident consumer. And confident consumers strengthen markets, which ultimately contribute to building strong nations,” she said.

Mrs Akinnubi added that strengthening Nigeria’s consumer protection ecosystem requires enhanced surveillance, improved post-market monitoring, greater stakeholder engagement, the use of technology for traceability, and sustained consumer awareness initiatives.

Giving the keynote address, Mrs Sola Salako, President and Founder of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), praised Rite Foods for hosting the forum and highlighted the role of technology in strengthening consumer protection.

She spoke on Using AI to Improve Consumer Confidence, and introduced the CAFON Consumer Companion (3C) App, designed to help Nigerian consumers better understand and enforce their rights by guiding dispute resolution, complaint drafting, and identifying possible legal violations.

Mrs Salako also noted that the media can leverage the platform to verify consumer claims, investigate unfair practices, and promote accountability.

She commended Rite Foods for opening its operations to stakeholders, noting that a company willing to bring regulators, journalists, and consumer advocates into its factory demonstrates strong confidence in its processes and the quality of its products.

Speaking on behalf of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, Mr Dan Obi, Chairman of the association, commended Rite Foods for opening its production facility to journalists and regulators, describing the move as a demonstration of accountability and confidence in its manufacturing standards.

“The level of professionalism, hygiene, and automation observed during the factory tour reinforces confidence in the quality of products coming from Rite Foods. This kind of openness strengthens public trust and promotes responsible industry practices,” he stated.

Rite Foods’ portfolio includes 13 variants of Bigi Carbonated Soft Drinks, Bigi Premium Table Water, the award-winning Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink, and Bigi Flex, Rite, and Bigi Beef Sausages.

The company recently received the Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year at the Edge Awards, alongside multiple honours at the Sustainability, Innovation and Social Impact (SISA) Awards and the SERAS Awards.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The prevailing rise in input costs and economic conditions have forced leading brewery companies in Nigeria, including International Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and Nigerian Breweries Plc, to raise the prices of their products.

Guinness Nigeria, in a notice sent to business partners, announced a plan to increase prices on selected SKUs across categories from Thursday, March 26, 2026.

The company noted that the price increase was necessitated by the prevailing economic conditions, which have significantly impacted its cost of doing business. It noted that fully funded orders raised in its system before Thursday, March 26, 2026, will be shipped at existing prices.

In the same vein, Nigerian Breweries, in a notification sent to its valued partners, said it would implement a price increase on select SKUs, effective Friday, March 20, 2026, but promised to honour current prices for all fully funded and confirmed orders placed in its system before the day of the increment to minimise disruptions.

The company commended the partners for their continued support and efforts to deliver on the 2026 business objectives, noting that their partnership is highly valued and remains integral to its shared success.

Similarly, International Breweries said its price adjustment would be applied to selected SKUs across its portfolio, effective Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The price increase, according to the District Manager, International Breweries, West, Mr Samuel Ngene, was driven by the prevailing global conflict and subsequent rising input costs.

Like the others, Mr Ngene assured customers that the company would honour current pricing for existing orders that are fully funded in the system before March 21, 2026, urging business partners to review their current orders and plan purchases accordingly to optimise operations during this period.

He expressed profound appreciation to all the business partners, noting that the company remains committed to working closely with them in providing the necessary support to drive continued growth in your territory.

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