I’m not sure I’ve been to a place in Nigeria and not come across a Fanmilk vendor. Just like Coca-Cola, they are everywhere. From the iconic Fanmilk bicycles to shop vendors, to supermarkets, you are almost guaranteed to find the popular Fanmilk products anywhere you go. Fanmilk is one of the oldest businesses in Nigeria. It was incorporated in 1961, and began the sale of products in 1963, with a diary factory in Ibadan, Oyo State. Over the years, the company has grown to establish several distribution centres all over the country, with the factory in Ibadan as functional as ever before. According to Fanmilk, the company employs almost a thousand staff members directly. This is not counting the possibly thousands of street vendors and supermarkets. Fanmilk products are a popular choice, with the frozen yoghurt being the most popular of them. This is not surprising as the frozen yoghurt range is extremely affordable and easily accessible. Maybe before you finish reading this, you just might find a Fanmilk bicycle strolling past you. Other products of Fanmilk include Fanchoco Chocolate milk, FanIce Ice Cream, FanDango Fruit drink, FanVanille, and Fantastic Yoghurt. For such a popular company with a long history in Nigeria, one begins to wonder how they have managed to stay relevant for so long. The success of Fanmilk can be attributed to two things: Quality Quality is a trademark of Fanmilk, undoubtedly. Since I’ve known their products, I believe they have managed to remain the same, or at least get better. The contents have not been reduced or dilluted, even through the most unfavourable economic weathers. Prices may have changed over the years, understandably, but the quality of their products has always remained constant. To have a successful relationship with consumers, a business needs to keep quality at the forefront. Quality should never be sacrificed at the altar of profits. Product Improvement Rather than become redundant over the years, Fanmilk managed to get better. Not only did they improve on their existing products, they also continued to launch better and more appealing products for different types of consumers. While the FanIce, FanYogo and SuperYogo are iconic, long lasting products, FanDango, Fantastic and Fan Royale are much more recent products that are a diversion from the classic yoghurt. They have also noticeably improved on their marketing and product packaging, which now makes their products suitable for parties and ceremonies. The history of Fanmilk in Nigeria is undoubtedly an enviable one. The company is a leader in the dairy sector, as well as a fine example of excellence. About the author: Amina Salau is a writer and editor running The Illuminated Pen. You can find her online at www.theilluminatedpen.com and on Twitter (@_Aminah)