NIGERIA – Cormart Nigeria Ltd., one of the leading chemical and food raw materials companies in Nigeria and a member of TGI Group, has forged a strategic partnership with Big Dutchman for the production of sandwich panels.

Big Dutchman is one of the world’s leading providers of innovative equipment for modern egg, poultry and pig production.

The partnership seeks to locally manufacture the sandwich panels used in large-scale poultry operations, that are mostly imported, impacting on production costs, schedules, and business growth plans of poultry businesses.

Furthermore, the project will save the Nigerian economy significant Forex reserves and create over 50 jobs in production and sales.

This partnership allows Big Dutchman to provide the technical specifications to produce top-quality panels, while Cormart manufactures the panels at its facility in Ogun State.

The Cormart’s Business Development and Strategy Manager, Samuel Olarinde, said, “The sandwich panels will be produced using state-of-the-art technology with quality materials sourced from the best in the industry.

“We will match import standards to reduce the difficulties of FX and other supply chain issues for customers in Nigeria and other West African countries.”

The state-of-the-art factory is currently under construction, with production expected to begin in January 2023.

“We are excited to partner with one of the world’s market leaders in the industry. Big Dutchman is an anchor partner as we have a huge pipeline of projects in the poultry industry, which all require sandwich panels,” said Dr Johannes Flosbach, Cormart’s General Manager

He further stated that, “We chose to invest in sandwich panels to cut down the rising cost of importation. The plant will produce sandwich panels at international standards, so the importation of high-quality sandwich panels will no longer be required.”

Besides the focus on the poultry industry, the facility will produce sandwich panels for cold rooms, pharmaceutical facilities, and food processing.

Managing Director Big Dutchman, Thomas Ogundiran, stated, ‘’Investments in the Nigerian poultry industry are booming but importing equipment is a challenge.

“Hence, local production of equipment at global standards is the solution. We are happy that we can partner with Cormart to achieve this project.”

Cormart is a sister company to Chi Farms, which will further add agricultural know-how to the project.

This latest partnership between Cormart and Big Dutchman, follows the former’s collaboration with Kerry, to enable the world’s leading manufacturer of food flavours and ingredients to undertake local production in the West African nation.

Both companies have been having a long-standing relationship which has seen Kerry avail its products in the Nigerian market over the years.

The partnership will enable the multinational to be more sensitive and responsive to the local market requirements.

To this end, Nigerian manufacturers will be able to conveniently procure top-quality ingredients from Kerry, have shorter lead times, save shipment time and ultimately reducing cost.

Other than Kerry, company also undertakes collaboratively works with other multinationals including EFF, Cargill, Sensient, DD Williamson, BASF, Barry Callebaut, Puratos Group and Nutrinova, among others.

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