Sona Agro Allied Foods to boost capacity with new plants
…Launches Sona Bites Biscuits
Determined to meet the growing demands for its range of products in Nigeria,the management of Sona Agro Allied Foods Limited has concluded plans to boost capacity through an additional two biscuit plants. This, it said, would assist the company in boosting its current capacity where it produces about 100 tons per day. Similarly, the biscuits manufacturing giant has launched SONA BITES Biscuit, a new addition to its rich products portfolio with a view to nourishing its teeming consumers with a premium brand of biscuits.
SONA BITES biscuit is Cashew and Butter based rich recipe product to meet the taste demand of Nigerian population. Both Cashew and Butter are locally sourced ingredients as Sona Group continue to strive to use locally available raw materials to be used 100% in its manufacturing activity to drive the local economy very strongly.
According to the managing director,Mr.Subramaniam Murugesan, who made the disclosure during the new product launch midweek in Lagos said “with the installation of two additional plants, the company would now have a production capacity of 200 tonnes per day.While expressing optimism in the Nigerian market,Murugesan said the company remains resolute to providing innovative products in the years ahead.
Commenting on the launch of its new premium biscuits brand, Murugesan said that the decision to launch new arrays into the market was informed by the need to fill the big vacuum arising from shortage of premium biscuits in supermarkets, which he saidwas occasioned by lack of access to foreign exchange and the federal government ban on such imported items.
He said“even though we are in mass market, all our products are known for quality. We have now moved to premium segment using rich recipe in order to meet the standard of American and Europe.As I speak, we have well experienced food technologists both Nigerian and Indian expatriates who are capable of making high quality products to meet the need of consumers”.
While acknowledging the fact that there is low disposable income among consumers in the face of current economic hardship,he said the company has remained faithful to the yearnings of different classes of consumers by providing products that cater for different classes in the market.
On his part, the state co-ordinator of Standard Organisation of Nigeria,SON,Ogun state, Mr. Ayuba Samuel said the agency was satisfied with the level of compliance bySona Agro Allied Foods Ltd, noting that virtually all of its products are now certified. While lauding the company for its initiative to rely solely on locally sourced materials, he urged similar companies to emulate the idea by looking inward.
He said” We are here to see what they have on ground and I can tell you that they have quality products in this factory. Recently about five of their brands were certified to our mandatory conformity, MANCAP. The company has been bestowed with the receiver of such award in 2017 and it is one of the reasons I had to visit the plant to also see the factory myself. As you can see, you can experience the culture, you can see the environment and you can also see the products. I want to assure Nigerians that this factory meets the necessary requirements by SON”.
“In terms of the new product, it is great.So, I want to encourage Nigerians to patronize them, one of the reasons why we encourage local manufacturing which enhances our national growth. Let Nigerians turn away from foreign products, let them patronize local manufacturers and that will add value to our local manufacturers and also increase our Gross Domestic Products (GDP)”.
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