Brands/Products
Olam Agri Introduces Cholesterol-Free Mama’s Pride Soya Oil to Consumers
By Dipo Olowookere
A well-refined and heart-healthy cooking oil designed to meet the evolving nutritional needs of households has been introduced into the Nigerian edible oil market by Olam Agri.
The product, Mama’s Pride Soya Oil, is a carefully developed innovation tailored for Nigerian kitchens and homes.
It is fortified with Vitamin A and Omega 3 and 6, and has zero cholesterol content, with long-lasting frying performance, ensuring value for money for consumers.
To produce Mama’s Pride Soya Oil, the company had strong engagements with the soy farmer community and the government. Its $50 million state-of-the-art soybean crushing plant and feed mill complex in Ilorin, Kwara State, serves as the largest in sub-Saharan Africa with a processing capacity of 250,000–350,000 metric tonnes annually, supporting local soybean production.
This is supplying Olam Agri’s feed-milling unit and its edible oil unit subsidiary, Ruyat Oil, which specialises in processing and refining various vegetable oils for the Nigerian market.
“Mama’s Pride Soya Oil is proudly produced in Nigeria for Nigerians. It is thoughtfully developed as a product consumers can trust for their everyday cooking.
“With its superior quality, health benefits, and long-lasting performance, we are confident it will redefine standards and emerge as a market leader,” the Africa Head of Edible Oil Processing at Olam Agri, Mr Saurabh Kumar, said at the unveiling of the new product.
“This product reflects our continuous investment in Nigeria and belief in its potential. It builds on our impressive achievements across rice, wheat milling, animal feed, and sesame segments.
“From sourcing soybeans locally to processing them into high-quality oil, our new edible oil product is built on excellence, sustainability, and trust,” he added.
Also speaking, the Head of Marketing, Ms Bola Adeniji, said, “We encourage consumers to choose healthy, non-adulterated edible oils. Mama’s Pride Soya Oil offers not just quality, but safety and nutrition. We call on our trade partners and dealers to champion authentic brands and help eliminate adulterated products from the market for the overall health of Nigerians.”
In his remark, the Managing Director for Wheat Milling Business, Mr Nitin Mehta, said, “This is a historic moment for us. To change the game, we must offer consumers a high-quality product at an affordable price. Mama’s Pride Soya Oil embodies that vision.
“After over a year and a half of rigorous product research and development, we are proud to deliver a product that meets the highest standards.
“We have seen tremendous support from our dealers across our pasta and semolina products, and we are confident that with their continued partnership, Mama’s Pride Soya Oil will achieve even greater success in the market.”
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.
