Brands/Products
LCCI Names CNBC Africa ‘Best Business Television’
By Dipo Olowookere
Africa’s most powerful multiplatform business media brand, CNBC Africa, was on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, announced as the ‘Best Business Television by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).
The media platform was honoured at a ceremony organised by LCCI at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Business Post reports that the award, which aims to acknowledge the very best of business journalism, comes in recognition of the network’s efforts to highlight the narrative of Africa’s growth and the opportunities present in the continent.
CNBC’s Executive Director for West Africa, Mr Frederic Vandevyver, who collected the award on behalf the firm, expressed his gratitude for the honour.
Mr Vandevyver noted that CNBC Africa remains committed to creating value and empowering people by accurately and passionately telling Africa’s business story first.
“To get an award in Lagos, which in my opinion is one of the most vibrant economic and business cities in Africa, means a lot.
“I want to dedicate this award to the team working here in West Africa. They work 24 hours, 7 days a week to ensure that we cover all the business news in the best way possible. This award goes to them,” he said.
The network aims to be Africa’s business channel of choice across the continent – focused on aggressively growing its viewership by making the channel more accessible to the average African, this award does provide more momentum and encouragement to channel to achieve its dream.
According LCCI’s Director of Advocacy & Research, Dr Vincent Nwani, “the objective of the annual awards is to recognise, celebrate and promote private and public institutions that have exhibited the core values of best business practices, growth through innovations, business sustainability and have positively impacted the society.
“This award is the outcome of a painstaking selection process from numerous entries received for this award category and backed by feedback from industry/market intelligence”.
The distinct blend of PAN African and International content, and keen focus on economic news led CNBC Africa to emerge as the undisputed winner of this award.
CNBC Africa commenced its African journey in 2007- and has since then, grown to be a dependable network for actionable business and financial information.
The detailed coverage provided by the channel across markets and sectors, makes it a reliable source of information to the African business community.
With a viewership crossing 23 million households on DSTV, Startimes Nigeria, Canal Plus and Kwese TV, across 48 African countries- CNBC Africa bridges the gap between CEO’s, entrepreneurs, government, the business community and the average man.
The channel has state-of-the-art infrastructure and studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kigali and Johannesburg, and imbibes a PAN African spirit unique to itself.
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.
