Nestlé Professional Empowers Food Vendors to foster economic growth

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 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.