How To Start A Biscuit Production Business In Nigeria

According to a report put out by global audit firm KPMG in 2016, Nigeria’s biscuit industry is worth over ₦100 billion. That’s a lot by most standards. And the fact that foreign investors are pouring money into local biscuit manufacturing concerns tells us that it has the potential to grow even further.

The good thing is, you don’t have to launch a large plant like Yale, Beloxxi, or A&P have done. You can actually start off from your home and steadily build a biscuit business until it becomes quite big. That’s how many an entrepreneur in this space and related ones have risen to become big players in their industry.

If you’d like to kick–start a biscuit production business in Nigeria, here are the steps you can take to make it happen.

Learn the Ropes

Don’t dive into biscuit production unless (or until) you know how biscuits are made. Learn from others who can produce them, and try out some recipes until you come up with one (or a few) that you’d like to sell. Your kitchen could be the lab for this phase.

Build a Reputation Within Your Network

Start serving family, friends and colleagues with some of your biscuits. You can volunteer to produce for their occasions either for free or at a lower price than what you’d eventually sell them when you launch. Ask for their feedback. Consider the suggestions they make, and use them if you think they could help you.

Register with the Relevant Government Agencies

Register your business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). To do this, you will need an official means of identification, such as a national ID, international passport, or voter’s card. You’ll also have to provide biodata relating to yourself (and those of any partners you may be starting the business with).

Next, you’ll want to register your product with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). By gaining their approval, you’ll establish that your biscuits are safe for public consumption.

Secure State–Sanctioned Ownership of Your Trademark

Ensure that authorities recognize your logo and trademarks as yours alone by registering them with the trademarks, patents and design registry of the Commercial Law Department at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

Get Equipment and Supplies

You’ll need the following equipment to start baking biscuits: cooling racks, cutters, mixer, grease-proof paper or foil, measuring spoons, sieve, rolling pin, scales, and spatula.

Some of the ingredients you’ll have to stock up on include: water, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, butter, and milk.

Start-Up

You can launch your business from your home, using your kitchen as a space for making cookies. If you want to start something really big, you could rent a place that’s big enough to take in the sort of production levels you’re looking for and set up there instead. Note that the equipment you’ll be using will be more tailored to mass production than simple homemade equipment.

Market Your Product

We have already mentioned that you should spread the word among your family and colleagues while you’re still at the preliminary stage. When you’ve finally decided to start off as a real business, you can leverage those networks and make them your first customers. They could help spread the word on your behalf, and draw in more customers.

Also, hire salespeople who you’ll pay a commission depending on the volumes they sell. And invite distributors and retailers to get your product on their shelves.