ERISCO FOODS LAUNCHES LARGEST TOMATO PROCESSING PLANT IN AFRICA; INTRODUCES VARIOUS CAN PACKS

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CHIEF ERIC UMEOFIA (PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ERISCO FOODS LIMITED)

Erisco Foods Limited, a member of Erisco Bonpet Group is set to officially launch its state-of-the art tomato processing and packaging factory in Lagos Nigeria. The plant which will be first of its kind in Nigeria and biggest tomato plant in Africa, will enable the company to meet the increasing market demand of Ric-Giko Tomato paste which has been nourishing consumers since it was launched about two years ago. The company has also introduced can packs in various sizes of 70, 200, 400, 800 and 2200 gram packs, including 70 gram satchets that have been available in the market.

The 200,000 metric tons per annum capacity plant will also contribute immensely to local processing of  fresh tomato paste and give support to the industry as genuine importers, packagers and bulk traders of tomato paste can start getting the product without the pains of procuring foreign exchange from Europe and Asia.

While speaking to BRANDPOWER on the uniqueness and inherent benefits and value of the new plant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia, stated that the new plant by the company is a major contribution to the backward integration programme of the Agricultural Sector by the federal government. “Our company, Erisco Foods Limited is setting the pace in the transformation of the Tomato sub-sector of the agriculture industry through a deft implementation of our backward integration programme. To this end, we have installed a 200,000 metric tons per annum capacity tomato processing and packaging factory in Lagos, Nigeria to ensure that Nigerians benefit fully from the entire value-chain in tomato cultivation, storage, processing and packaging.”

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Ric-giko Tomato PasteUmeofia who is an ardent supporter of local brands added that the ultra-modern plant will not only provide massive job creation but will also encourage meaningful exploitation of the natural fertility of the Nigerian soil and good weather  to provide Nigerians with fresh tomato nutrition for good health.

“The benefits it will offer the Nigerian economy includes massive job creation and economic empowerment of Nigerians. If God wanted us to eat only imported food he would not have blessed us with our great weather and vast arable land which is so great for cultivating tomatoes twice a year in Nigeria.

“The ultra-modern plant in addition to its great economic and culinary benefits will save Nigeria undue expenditure on medical bills as the fresh goodness of RIC-GIKO Tomato Paste brand will keep Nigerians healthy and active. Without doubt, our own Nigerian freshly processed products are much better and beneficial to us than indiscriminately imported ones,” he stated.

A testimony of such freshly processed tomato product is RIC-GIKO Tomato Paste which is available in cans and sachets of various sizes; packaged in Nigeria for wholesome nutritional goodness. The Ric-giko brand which comes in the classic tomato and tomato with pepper variant is fast gaining wide acceptance across Nigerian homes. Its 2200 gram pack has been very well embraced by professional cooks and chefs in restaurants and hotels in various parts of the country.

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Chief Umeofia also added that the Erisco Foods tomato processing plant is available to genuine importers of packaged tomato products to process and package their products in their own brand names. The smart ones, according to Chief Umeofia, have started enjoying the unique benefits and advantage that the plant offers.