Alaro City, a mixed development site located in the Lekki Free Zone area in Lagos Nigeria launched its first industrial production company named Ariel Foods On February 5, as reported by Vanguard.
Ariel Foods, a sister company of Kenyan-based Insta Foods is owned by tycoon Dhiren Chandaria. The company majors in the manufacture of therapeutic foods- highly nutritional food.
For over 16 years, it has built a reputation in the manufacture of ready to eat foods providing essential supplement to the diets of people with special nutritional requirements.
The foods are comprised of a high-calorie combination of peanut paste, sugar, oil and milk powder fortified with 23 vitamins and minerals.
This is in turn given to individuals with the inability to digest solid food portions. The supplements are administered for about six weeks before other foods are introduced.
The company also has interests in multi-sector investments cutting across housing, soap and detergent production, construction materials and equipment, media and energy.
Insta Foods is located in Athi River's Export Processing Zone and is a major supplier to UNICEF and World Food Programme relief initiatives.
Alaro City is backed by the State of Lagos and developer, Rendeavour, Africa's largest new city builder, which is also the owner and developer of Tatu City.
During its launch, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu welcomed Chandaria's investment into the region.
"I am pleased to witness the start of operations of Ariel Foods, which has built a remarkable facility in less than one year,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
"The confidence of international and Nigerian investors is a testament to Alaro City as the location of choice for businesses in the Lekki Free Zone, and to the ease of doing business in Lagos State," he added.
Chandaria expressed his gratitude to the State of Lagos and the Nigerian government for the opportunity to venture into the country's market, as well as make a contribution to catering for people with special nutritional requirements in the region.
"Ariel Foods is proud to expand its production to Nigeria and to play a major role in food and population security in West Africa through the production of ready-to-use therapeutic foods, to feed malnourished children and to supplement the diets of persons with special nutrition requirements," Chandaria stated.
He affirmed that the company was dedicated to manufacturing the highest quality, safest and most nutritious products available.
The factory rests on 15,414 square metres of land and has an estimated production capacity of 18,000 metric tones of product.
“Currently, 16 companies are designing or building their facilities, and 3.5km of initial road networks and a modular 50MVA power plant are under construction”, Sanwo-Olu stated, noting that Ariel Foods was primarily the largest and currently operational factory.
