Nestlé Professional Empowers Food Vendors to foster economic growth

 Nestlé Professional Empowers Food Vendors to foster economic growth  

Oluwatoyin Mathnuel

INSIGHT GLOBAL NEWS 

Nestlé Professional continued its project to foster economic growth among food 

vendors in Nigeria at the Business of Food workshop in Ilorin. Over 300 

participants including food vendors, chefs, canteen and restaurant operators as 

well as culinary school students were trained on how to improve their food 

businesses. 

The training covered various aspects of the food industry, including culinary 

techniques, menu planning, customer engagement, and good hygiene practices. 

Attendees were able to gain valuable insights from seasoned professionals who 

shared their expertise and best practices.

Mrs. Funmi Osineye, head of Nestlé Professional business in Nigeria said “This 

workshop is aligned with our vision to foster economic growth in local 

communities. Our aim is to equip local food vendors with the essential 

knowledge and skills to grow and sustain their businesses. We believe that in 

addition to the practical skills, local entrepreneurs need a supportive 

environment where they can thrive. We therefore designed the workshop to 

include networking opportunities where participants can exchange ideas, share 

their experiences, and build valuable connections within the industry. We are 

confident that the training today will equip the food vendors, chefs, canteen and

restaurants operators as well as the culinary school students to excel in the 

business of food 

One of the highlights of the workshop was the live cooking master class by 

popular OAP - Olushola Folake Mutiat on the fundamentals of Wanke, a popular 

West African dish made from a combination of rice and beans, using Maggi 

Chicken and Maggi Star seasoning. 

There was also a cooking competition where the teams – ‘Chicken’ and ‘Star’ -

tried to outdo each other in their task to make the best jollof rice dish.

The president of the Association of Caterers and Restaurant Owners in Ilorin, 

Mrs. Olayinka Atoyebi, thanked Nestlé Professional for the initiative and the 

opportunity for the members of the association to learn new skills for improving 

their businesses and livelihoods. 

Catering schools present at the workshop include IVTEC, Ajase-Ipo, Imi-Ini 

Venture and Best Apple Treat. Students of the culinary schools expressed 

gratitude to Nestlé Professional for the opportunity to meet and learn from 

accomplished industry practitioners. 

Mrs. Osineye assured participants that Nestlé Professional remains committed to 

supporting the growth and success of food vendors in Nigeria. “We aim to uplift 

the local food industry, promote entrepreneurship, and create a positive impact 

in communities,” she said. 

- End -

About Nestle Professional:

Nestlé Professional is the Out-of-Home arm of Nestle and it focuses on providing innovative, high-quality food and beverage solutions 

to the out-of-home, or foodservice, industry in Nigeria. This division caters to a wide range of customers, including restaurants, hotels, 

cafes, offices, catering companies, coffee shops and other foodservice providers.

Our Vision is “To be the trusted partner of choice in Out-of-Home, by providing Affordable & Nutritious Food and Beverage Solutions 

that help our customers win”

About Nestlé Nigeria: 

Nestlé Nigeria is one of the largest food and beverage companies in Africa. For over 59 years, the company has been delighting 

consumers around Nigeria by consistently delivering high quality nutritious food. 

With a staff strength of over 2,200 direct employees, 3 manufacturing sites, 7 branch offices and a head office located in Lagos, the 

company produces and markets several iconic brands including NESTLÉ PURELIFE, GOLDEN MORN, MILO, MAGGI and NESCAFÉ.

Nestlé’s purpose is to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come.