Nestlé Professional Empowers 300 Food Vendors to Foster Economic Growth

Participants of the workshop with various gifts received from Nestlé Professional.

Poised to unlock the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone to foster economic growth in the country, Nestlé Professional has continued its project of empowering 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.

According to a statement by Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Manager, Nestle Nigeria, the training covered various aspects of the food industry, including culinary techniques, menu planning, customer engagement, and good hygiene practices.

Attendees, the statement stated, 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 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 restaurant 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 and Mrs. Funmi Osineye, head of Nestlé Professional business in Nigeria (middle) in group photograph with winners of the cooking competition during the workshop.

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.

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 food service, industry in Nigeria. This division caters to a wide range of customers, including restaurants, hotels, cafes, offices, catering companies, coffee shops and other food service 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”

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 the quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come.