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Diageo appoints John O’Keeffe President of Diageo Africa AFRICA - John O’Keeffe, currently Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, is to be appointed President, Diageo Africa, joining the Diageo Executive from 1 July 2015. The company has also announced that Soren Lauridsen take over as Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria following a transition.
O’Keeffe will be reporting to Nick Blazquez, President Diageo Africa & Asia. Current President, Diageo Africa Diageo Andy Fennell is leaving Diageo at the end of the current fiscal year after 18 years with the company. Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive Diageo, commented: “John O’Keeffe will bring marketing and general management experience to the Diageo Executive and his experience in innovation will be key as we look to increase our mainstream spirits business in Africa. Soren
Lauridsen has already joined Diageo and will bring strong leadership skills to his new role in Guinness Nigeria.” O’Keefe has been in charge of Nigeria for only a few months, having joined in November last year. He has been in Diageo for over 20 years. He has been the Managing Director, Russia and Eastern Europe based in Russia before returning to Ireland, to take up his current role as Global Head of Diageo Innovation and Global Head of Beer & Baileys.
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R&R completes the acquisition of Nestlé’s ice cream business
Fonterra appoints new Africa chief
SOUTH AFRICA - R&R Ice Cream Plc has announced the acquisition of Nestlé South Africa’s ice cream business. The deal, which has been approved by the South African Competition Commission, however didn’t disclose the terms. R&R notes that the deal will enhance R&R’s reputation as a global player in the ice cream sector following the firm’s acquisition of Peters Food Group in Australia in May 2014. R&R is the third largest ice cream manufacturer in the world, with annual sales approaching € 1 billion (US$1.12
billion). The deal hands R&R Nestlé South Africa’s ice cream brands portfolio including Dairymaid, Country Fresh, Eskimo Pie and King Cone. According to R&R, the South African ice cream sector has enjoyed good historic growth which is forecast to continue. It was worth approximately R2.1 billion (€160 million) in 2013. Ibrahim Najafi, CEO of R&R, said: “This acquisition is a major milestone towards our goal of becoming a leading global player in ice cream. As a business we have enjoyed a successful partnership with Nestlé for nearly 15 years in the UK. This relationship was extended with the acquisition of Peters in Australia, also a former Nestlé business, and now we are looking forward to working together in South Africa. “We also believe that African ice cream consumption will continue to increase as consumers become more affluent and we see this acquisition as a springboard to grow sales across much of the African continent.”
AFRICA – The New Zealand dairy company Fonterra has appointed Johan Priem as Managing Director Asia Middle East and Africa (Asia MEA). Mr Priem who has been President for Greater China, will add the Asia MEA region to his stable effective August 2015. As President Greater China Johan Priem has directed the development of Fonterra’s business in this priority market. Johan has a strong background in the global dairy industry. His most recent role focused on enhancing Fonterra’s approach to food safety and quality, corporate social responsibility and sustainability. According to the Chief Executive Theo Spierings Mr Priem is ideally placed to take on this additional role given he has previously held senior leadership positions in Asia, Middle East and Africa for Fonterra and other companies.
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Bakers struggle to produce cassava bread NIGERIA - Bakers across Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, are facing a hard time with the policy of 20 per cent inclusion of cassava in bread production was due to a lot of constraints. Jacob Adejorin, Chairman, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Lagos 10
April - May 2015 | Food Business Africa
Chapter has said that poor awareness, short shelf life, substandard cassava flour, lack of training and equipment for production, among others,
as some of the constraints bakers have faced in their quest to develop the cassava bread. In 2014, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture, said that Nigeria could save up to N200 billion (US$ 1 billion) from the inclusion of cassava flour in bread production.
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