… Reaffirms its commitment to backward integration, the long-term development of the sugar value chain, and the continuous improvement of the nation’s sugar supply.
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Sunti Brown Sugar is produced at Sunti Golden Sugar Estates,
which is owned and operated by Golden Sugar Company, a subsidiary of the FMN
Group. Sunti Brown Sugar is fully indigenous, made from sugarcane grown,
harvested, and processed locally. It is fortified with Vitamin A and provides
additional nutritional benefits, creating a consumer affinity for
made-in-Nigeria products.
FMN has long established itself as a formidable player in
the sugar sector through the success of the Golden Penny pure white refined
sugar, renowned for its sweetness.
With the Sunti brown sugar launch, FMN further reaffirms its
commitment to the Nigerian Sugar Masterplan, which aims to increase the
domestic production of sugar to meet the 1.7 Million Metric Tons (MMT) demand.
Sunti Brown Sugar will enable Nigeria to attain self-sufficiency in sugar
production by growing the required local capacity to meet the demand for sugar
which will stem the tide of unbridled importation of sugar and its by-products.
During the launch, Boye Olusanya, the Group Managing
Director of FMN, stated that continued investments in Nigeria’s sugar value
chain would increase local sugar production capacity while empowering host
communities. He commented:
“Currently, the sugar that is produced from locally grown
sugarcane meets less than 5% of the nation’s demand. So, FMN’s commitment to
improving the supply value chain through backward integration will immensely
improve food security and reduce the over-dependence on sugar imports.
It also creates vast employment opportunities for skilled
and semi-skilled labour. And while we are not quite there yet, I believe that
with Golden Sugar’s leadership in the industry, Nigeria is well on its way to
recapturing the glory years of sugar production in the 80s. In the long run,
our goal is to build a vibrant sugar sector, one the economy can derive
immeasurable benefits from.”
Mr. Olusanya explains that restoring the nation’s
self-sufficiency in the sugar sector requires a conducive policy environment
that the Government has provided through the Backward Integration Program of
the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan.
Also commenting, Devlin Hainsworth, Managing Director, Foods
Division, FMN Group, revealed that the company has a history of creating
innovative products loved by consumers. He commented:
“We are building on our track record of excellence in the
sugar industry. Without a doubt, the addition of Sunti Brown sugar to our
product portfolio broadens our ability to meet the diverse needs of our
customers. Sunti Brown Sugar, extracted from naturally grown sugarcanes,
processed, and fortified with vitamin A, is set to restore Nigerian pride by
introducing to the market a product that is entirely made, from start to finish
in Nigeria.
Additionally, it reaffirms our commitment to the millions of
Nigerian families that rely on us for daily sustenance and confirms Golden
Penny’s place at the heart of the family and, of course, the nation.”