Local food manufacturing company launches new tomato paste factory

folarin okunola

February 21, 2016 7:38 PM

The occasion was graced by Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abolanle Ambode, wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, supporting banks and other dignitaries

Aisha Buhari, wife of the President at the launch

Erisco Foods Ltd, a manufacturer of foods products and beverages commissioned a new factory for the production of Tomato paste today, according to media reports.

The occasion was graced by Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abolanle Ambode, wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, supporting banks and other dignitaries who commissioned the new factory.

In her speech, Mrs. Buhari encouraged all Nigerians to patronize locally made tomato paste rather than imported ones.

MD/CEO of Erisco Foods Ltd, Eric Odinaka Umeofia,mentioned that the launch of the new factory was a great step for the company in terms of encouraging the use of locally produced tomato paste, and employment opportunities.

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The company presently has a total staff strength of 1,900 employees and hopes to increase that number to 9,000 within the next three years.

With a production capacity of over 400,000 metric tonnes, Erisco Foods Ltd is setting the pace for tomato paste production in Nigeria.

Erisco Foods Ltd (formerly called Erisco Food Processing Ltd) was incorporated in 2004 as a local manufacturer of food products in Nigeria. The company is also into the production of sugar, salt, rice, seasoning and beverages, according to report by Innovation Village.

With the recent downward fortune of the Naira in the parallel market, importation has been gradually discouraged which has led to local manufacturing companies like Innoson, and now Erisco, canvassing to more patronage.

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