Foreign investors and food industry players from Europe, Asia, and Africa have intensified efforts to tap into Nigeria’s vast consumer market as the Food and Beverages West Africa Exhibition concluded in Lagos on Thursday.

The three-day exhibition, held from June 9 to 11, 2026, attracted over 350 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, providing a platform for manufacturers, exporters, distributors, and investors to explore business opportunities in Nigeria and the wide West African market.

Participants expressed optimism about the region’s growth potential, with many describing Nigeria as the gateway to Africa’s food and beverage industry.

Speaking during the exhibition, Service Partner at BCE Food Service Equipment Nigeria, Japhet Adianawo, said that despite occasional economic uncertainties, Nigeria remained an attractive market for businesses in the hospitality and catering equipment sector.

“We’ve been in Nigeria for about 11 years and the market is good. There are ups and downs, but we are here and many companies know us. We support local businesses and continue to see opportunities in the market,” he said.

Adianawo noted that while the company had considered establishing a manufacturing plant in Nigeria, the huge capital requirement for industrial equipment production remained a major challenge.

For Dutch companies, the exhibition provided an opportunity to expand their footprint in West Africa.

Managing Partner of Export Partner Netherlands, Daan Busscher, said the event marked the first participation of Dutch food companies at the exhibition and revealed growing interest among businesses from the European country.

“It is our first time here in Nigeria, but we already have companies exporting to Nigeria and West Africa. This exhibition gives us an opportunity to meet more partners who can bring our products into the market,” Busscher said.

He added that several Dutch firms were eager to enter Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country’s large population and expanding food industry would continue to attract investment.

Also speaking, Marketing Lead for Kerry Greater Africa, Gbemi Ogunkeye, highlighted Nigeria’s importance to the multinational ingredients manufacturer.

According to her, the company operates eight factories across Africa, including one in Nigeria, where it runs beverage, bakery, and savoury laboratories.

“Nigeria is one of our biggest markets by volume. We’ve seen huge growth and continue to invest in supporting food and beverage manufacturers across the country,” she said.

Ogunkeye noted that Nigeria had emerged as one of Africa’s largest consumer markets, particularly in the beverage segment, creating opportunities for ingredient suppliers and manufacturers.

Indian confectionery manufacturer Mannco LLP also reaffirmed its commitment to the Nigerian market.

Founder of the company, Kapil Sewani, described Nigeria as Africa’s most important commercial destination.

“Africa is one of our biggest markets and Nigeria is the big daddy of all. We already have distributors here and we’ve participated in this exhibition for three consecutive years. It helps us support our distributors and grow our brand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Poland used the exhibition to showcase its growing food export industry and seek new business partnerships in Nigeria.

Director of Export Supply Department at Poland’s National Support Centre for Agriculture, Piotr Kondraciuk, said many Nigerians were unaware of Poland’s status as a major global food exporter.

He explained that Polish companies were looking to establish direct business relationships with Nigerian importers and distributors while introducing products ranging from sweets and dairy items to beverages.

“Our focus is on building business-to-business relationships. Nigeria is a strategic market and we hope to bring more Polish companies here next year,” Kondraciuk said.

The exhibition highlighted Nigeria’s increasing attractiveness as a destination for foreign investment in the food and beverage sector, driven by its large population, expanding consumer base, and strategic position as West Africa’s largest economy.

Industry stakeholders said the event created new opportunities for partnerships, technology transfer, and trade, further strengthening Nigeria’s position as a key hub for food and beverage business on the continent.(The Guardian)

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