Lagos, Nigeria, July 11, 2011
— IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is investing $20 million in Food Concepts Plc to help the Nigerian quick-service restaurant and bakery operator improve its social, safety and corporate governance standards, and expand operations in Ghana and Nigeria, increasing the availability of convenient and affordable food.
IFC will provide a financing package consisting of a $13 million equity investment and a $7 million loan to the company, which will use the long-term funding to help develop about 40 new quick-service restaurants, double bakery production, and establish a poultry production farm in Nigeria.
Food Concepts’ expansion plan is expected to create hundreds of jobs, benefitting a number of smaller businesses in its supply chain.
Deji Akinyanju, founder and CEO of Food Concepts, said, “IFC’s long-term capital and loan will allow Food Concepts to implement its long-term growth strategy. IFC’s global expertise will also enable us to become a leading regional quick service restaurant and bakery operator, using best practices in corporate governance, insurance, financial management, and environmental and social matters.”
Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, said, “IFC’s investment in Food Concepts underscores our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s private sector, especially its SME sector. Our partnership with Food Concepts will also help develop reliable food supply chains and strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa’s agribusiness and food-processing sectors, which are vital to the region's development.”
Supporting small and medium enterprises and agribusiness are key priorities for IFC in Africa, since these sectors account for the bulk of employment on the continent. Across Africa, IFC is supporting projects across the food supply chain, including processing, logistics, and distribution.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development. In a time of global economic uncertainty, our new investments climbed to a record $18 billion in fiscal 2010. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
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