Innovation, Local Talent Key To Growth In Beverage Sector — Food Firm

Innovation, investment in local talent and commitment to product quality will continue to drive competition in Nigeria’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and beverage industry, according to Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited.

Eze stated this during an interactive session with journalists at the Rite Foods content immersion and launch of Lida Malt in Ososa, Ogun State, where he discussed the company’s evolution, workforce policies and approach to building a sustainable business.

He traced the company’s roots to the Ess-Ay Holdings Group, founded in 1963 by Alhaji Dr. Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, explaining that the group’s transition from photography and imaging into foods and beverages was driven by the need to adapt to changing market realities.

According to him, the group was once a major player in Nigeria’s photography industry through Photo Palace and Phototech, which operated about 60 branches nationwide in the early 1980s and pioneered colour photographic printing in the country. However, the emergence of digital technology forced a strategic repositioning.

That shift led to the incorporation of Rite Foods in 2007. Eze said the company began operations with sausage production before venturing into beverages in 2016, a move initially viewed with scepticism due to the dominance of established competitors.

“We don’t believe in copying people,” Eze said, stressing that innovation remained central to the company’s product development.

He cited Fearless Energy Drink as an example, noting that the energy drink category was previously dominated by premium-priced products. The introduction of Fearless in PET bottles, he explained, was intended to offer a more accessible alternative to a broader range of consumers.

He claimed that Fearless has become a market leader in Nigeria’s energy drink segment, though he did not provide independent market data during the interaction to substantiate the claim.

He said the company’s vision is to be a leader in its chosen markets while building an enduring legacy.

“Our vision is to be the leader in our chosen fields of operation, which will lead to good accessibility and an enduring legacy,” he said.

Eze identified integrity, excellence, innovation and accountability as the four core values guiding the company’s operations, noting that excellence reflects the belief that Nigerian businesses can produce goods capable of competing globally.

Beyond product development, he highlighted employee welfare and retention as critical to building a sustainable enterprise. He described Rite Foods as a proudly Nigerian business led by Nigerians, demonstrating the capacity of local professionals to build and manage businesses to high standards.

Recounting his recruitment interview with the group’s chairman, Eze said he was influenced by the chairman’s concern about the impact of government policies on businesses and employment, and his desire to protect employees even in difficult economic periods.

He contrasted this with the practice of some multinationals that respond to disappointing results by reducing their workforce.

According to him, the company’s competitive advantage depends substantially on its workforce, anchored on disciplined employees, disciplined thinking and disciplined action.

On sustainability, Eze said building a lasting enterprise requires more than producing popular consumer goods; it requires practices that support long-term growth, operational consistency and product quality.

The launch of Lida Malt in Ososa formed the backdrop to the discussion, which highlighted the role of innovation, local expertise and workforce development in shaping the future of Nigeria’s food and beverage industry.