Nestlé Professional Empowers 2,000 Women Entrepreneurs In Food Industry

Nestlé Professional, the Out-of-Home business arm of Nestlé Nigeria has equipped over 2,000 food businesses across Nigeria in the last three years. It provided essential skills and knowledge to enhance operations, drive growth, and increase income for the operators.

The company hosted the 10th edition of its Business of Food workshop in Benin, which focused on empowering and uniting over 200 female industry experts, restaurant operators, seasoned chefs, culinary school students, street food vendors, caterers, and grillers.

Recognising their vital role in serving their communities, the workshop provided participants with free hands-on training in culinary techniques, menu development, customer engagement, and hygiene best practices, along with the resources necessary to thrive in their businesses.

In line with the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ for International Women’s Day, this initiative underscores the urgent need to empower women and drive gender equality in the food industry, enabling them to take meaningful steps towards success and community impact.

Speaking at the event, Business manager for Nestlé Professional in Nigeria, Funmi Osineye stated, “food vendors play a vital role in providing essential nutrition to their communities. Over the course of 10 editions of this workshop in various states, we have received numerous testimonials, particularly from women whose businesses have experienced significant growth.

“This is why as the world unites to accelerate action in creating more opportunities for women to thrive, we are excited to offer this workshop, which empowers them to build sustainable businesses and enhance their impact in this vital sector. Additionally, we aim to foster networking opportunities that enable women to forge valuable business connections and collaborations.”

Also, the edition included a panel discussion with prominent figures in the food industry. Here, deputy director of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Edo State, Princess Esther Eruanga; and founder of Edo Caterers and managing director of 70’s Grill Caterers, Dame Joy Ideh, shared their inspiring journeys and offered actionable insights on overcoming challenges in the sector.

Eruanga said, “the workshop aligns with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, emphasising the crucial role women play in shaping communities and economies. By empowering female food entrepreneurs, the event supports broader efforts to create a more inclusive and thriving food ecosystem.”

The event not only celebrated the achievements of women in the food industry but also reinforced Nestlé Professional’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where women can thrive. Through initiatives like the Business of Food workshop, Nestlé continues to support and empower entrepreneurs in building successful businesses.

Nestlé Professional is the Out-of-Home arm of Nestle and it focuses on providing innovative, high-quality food and beverage solutions to the out-of-home, or food service, industry in Nigeria. This division caters to a wide range of customers, including restaurants, hotels, cafes, offices, catering companies, coffee shops and other food service providers.