Brands/Products
Lafarge Africa Introduces EcoCrete Low-Carbon Ready-Mix Concrete
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A new product has been launched into the Nigerian market by a leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company, Lafarge Africa Plc.
The cement miller, renowned for the manufacturing of high-quality building solutions, has introduced the first low-carbon ready-mix concrete in Nigeria known as EcoCrete.
The company is coming with this new innovative product after the success of EcoPlanet Unicem and EcoPlanet Elephant cement products that were introduced in 2024 and 2025 respectively, as part of Lafarge Africa’s efforts to provide sustainable alternatives across its product range.
The introduction of this new product is expected to pave way for contractors, engineers, and architects to meet their sustainability goals without compromising on strength, durability, or workability.
This is because EcoCrete delivers a minimum of 20 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with conventional CEM I concrete, while maintaining the same high performance and reliability.
Lafarge Africa’s Abuja Ready-Mix (RMX) plant has been fully converted to 100 per cent EcoCrete production, marking the first phase of this groundbreaking rollout.
Speaking on EcoCrete, the chief executive of Lafarge Africa, Mr Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said the introduction of EcoCrete expands the company’s portfolio of sustainable solutions, reinforcing its commitment to decarbonizing Nigeria’s construction sector, noting that the launch demonstrates the company’s commitment to offering innovative solutions that empower customers to build better with less.
“The introduction of EcoCrete is another bold step in our mission to enable builders and our customers make smart choices and support Nigeria’s transition to a greener economy. Just like our ECOPlanet cement, EcoCrete represents a game-changing innovation that combines performance with reduced carbon footprint,” he said.
On the benefits of the product, the Head of Aggregates and Readymix for Lafarge Africa, Mr Derek Williamson, explained that EcoCrete offers superior performance across a wide range of applications including housing, commercial buildings, roads and bridges.
“EcoCrete provides superior performance while significantly reducing carbon emissions in the environment. It is versatile and reliable for a wide range of applications from residential housing to commercial and infrastructure projects.
“With EcoCrete, builders and developers can now make environmentally conscious choices without compromising on strength, durability, or workability,” he stated.
Also commenting, the Head of Innovation and New Product Development at Lafarge Africa, Mr Emmanuel Ilaboya, described the product as the preferred solution to tackling the challenges posed by climate change in the country.
“EcoCrete is more than just a product; it is a climate-smart innovation designed to address the urgent need for sustainable construction. EcoCrete represents an innovative concrete solution developed through extensive research and testing.
“With EcoCrete, we provide a scalable alternative that significantly lowers CO₂ emissions and supports Nigeria’s path towards sustainable development,” he added.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
