NIGERIA – Leading wheat-based products manufacturer in Nigeria, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, has launched its new spaghetti mini pack as part of efforts to develop pocket-friendly products to customers.
According to the company, the launch of Honeywell Spaghetti Mini was based on extensive research and insight into the Nigerian consumer behaviour which highlighted a shift towards purchase of smaller pack sizes of commodities.
The spaghetti mini 200 gm pack has a retail price of N100 (US$0.24), fulfilling the company’s drive for affordability.
Commenting on the launch of the product, Managing Director of Honeywell Flour Mills, Lanre Jaiyeola said, “Honeywell Flour Mills is a key player in the food manufacturing business in Nigeria today and our consumers play a pivotal role in this regard.
Nigeria spent N258.3 billion (about US$625 million) during the first quarter of this year to import wheat to meet local demand
Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics
“This new product is the first of its kind in the pasta category and we are happy to have introduced it to the Nigerian market.”
Buttressing Jaiyeola’s statement, Director of Manufacturing Operations, Ifeanyi Abadom said, “The Honeywell Spaghetti Mini is a unique product that will satisfy a yearning for convenience in Nigerians. And with the development of this product, we have ensured that the policies, desired standards and quality set for ourselves are being surpassed.”
The launch comes at a time the country is reported to have spent N258.3 billion (about US$625 million) during the first quarter of this year to import wheat to meet local demand.
According to trading reports from the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, Wheat, which falls among the most imported goods for the period, accounted for 3.77 percent of total imports (mainly imported from Lithuania and Latvia).
According to the Standard International Trade Classification, Nigeria imported US$162 million worth of Durum wheat from Lithuania, about US$100 million from Latvia, and another US$100 million from Canada.
In the quest to meet up with the fast-growing population, the country turns to import since it produces only about 2% of the total wheat consumed.
Key food staples produced from wheat flour such as semolina, bread, noodles, and pasta among others form a regular part of daily meals in most Nigerian households, thereby resulting in the increasing demand in wheat importation.
Efforts made by various stakeholders – State Governments, FMAN, WFAN, LCRI National Agricultural Seed Council, and CBN- in boosting local wheat production in recent years has been disrupted by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria which is the major wheat production area.
Added to that, the novel coronavirus is another obstruction, with the recent movement restrictions imposed to control the pandemic creating significant challenges for wheat farmers.
