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    Nigeria is blessed with a variety of raw foods. From root crops to vegetables, to grains and legumes, aquatic products and fruits. This makes the nation self-sufficient in many ways. However, with many interested in becoming professionals, only a few graduates want to get involved in foodstuffs trading, despite the profitability therein. 
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Starting and running a successful foodstuff business requires brilliance, grit and experience. As a child who grew up in Lagos, the largest market in Africa, I observed the hustle and bustle of traders and businessmen, and most of them were traders of household commodities and foodstuff. Some of their commodities include tubers of yam, palm oil, grains of rice, beans, garlic, sugar and a range of others.  My mother was a businesswoman and I saw her grow to become a successful foodstuff retailer. I observed the techniques she used in growing her foodstuff business. Many people fail in the foodstuff business because they do not understand the underlying techniques behind growing a successful one. In this article, I will share them with you. Let’s go.
  • Understand The Level Of Dealership You Are Interested In
The first step towards building a successful foodstuff business is to know the scale of the foodstuff business and what to deal in. Do you want to be a mobile or a standby foodstuff retailer? Do you want to be a supplier to retailers or a standby trader? Foodstuff business is a business that requires understanding the size and operational model you want to venture into.
  • Have A Ready Market
Growing a successful foodstuff business is anchored on having a ready market. Many people go into the foodstuf business and fail woefully because they did not take into consideration engaging an available market before launching out. Some of them might jump into the market space without knowing any buyer. It is not enough to buy goods and jump into the market, ensure you have standby customers who are willing to buy from you in the long term. Determine the regions or areas you want to supply.
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  • Have A Stable Supply Chain Management
The foodstuff business requires a very stable supply chain management. This includes standby transportation and logistics that would transport goods from one region to another; from farms in rural areas to urban areas. For instance, as a yam dealer, yams are grown in their numbers in the north, hence you will need stable trailers that can transport your goods from the north to the west, where yams are rarely grown in commercial quantity.
  • Have A Standby Manufactory 
The secret to growing a successful foodstuff business is having a standby stable supply. For instance, if you deal in tubers, it means you have a group of farmers or you own hectares of yam farm where you cultivate and harvest from, from which you sell to traders. For someone who wants to deal in palm oil distribution, it is pivotal to collaborate with producers, where you can get it at a cheaper rate.
  • Grow Your Network 
Being a foodstuff distributor or retailer, growing your network is very essential. Nowadays, there are many foodstuff distributors on social media, most especially on Facebook and WhatsApp. Building your retail network, while you carry out major activities offline, is a tremendous way to grow your business. Featured Image Source: How Nigeria News
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This article was first published on 2nd April 2022

nnaemeka-emmanuel

Nnaemeka is an academic scholar with a degree in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a creative writer, content creator, storyteller, and social analyst.

Comments (1)

One thought on “How To Grow A Successful Foodstuff Business In Nigeria ”

  • Casie

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