Distributors of the Dangote foods companies, including Dangote Flour,
Sugar and Salt smiled home last night as the management of the Companies
doled out over N2 billion as rewards for their loyalty to the companies
over the past one year.
At a colourful Gala night which the distributors were hosted to last
night, top performers in each of the six geo-political zones as well as
national leading distributors were duly recognised with plagues and cash
rewards of varying amounts.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the recognition and cash
rewards was in the character of the Companies management to appreciate
their loyalty customers who stood by the organizations through thick and
tin.
He explained that the management hold their distributors in high esteem
because they are the reason for the success recorded by them in 2016
despite the economic challenges and the difficult operating environment
businesses found themselves.
“Our achievements would not have been possible without you. You stood by
us through tick and thin. We appreciate the confidence reposted in us to
serve you. We came into these businesses at a time Nigerians have
preferences for imported foreign foods, even if inferior.
“Because you are behind us we have succeeded and today we take the lead
while others follow in ensuring we domesticated all our production
processes and by so doing good creating jobs locally”
Dangote informed the distributors of his Group’s venture into rice
production saying it is a very ambitious project and that in two years
time, Dangote Rice limited item will be churning out one million tonnes.
He stated that mission of Dangote rice is to wipe out all imported rice
from the homes of Nigerians noting that by the time Dangote rice comes
on stream, “Nigerians would not talk about Thai rice again, because our
rice will be finer than imported ones”
While urging the customers to remain committed and loyal to Dangote
products, he promised that the managements of the food companies under
Dangote Group would double the over N2billion billion given out as
rewards.
Dangote disclosed the food companies would replicate the same achievement
recorded in cement industry through backward integration such that every
components of their production processes would be domesticated to ensure
all the products are available in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria and
at the same price.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Dangote Flour, Hajiya Halima
Aliko-Dangote said what the companies did was just a token of appreciation
for the volume sales recorded by the distributors despite the economic
doldrum.
She stated that the managements were encourage by the loyalty of the
distributors to continue to invest in innovation and research extensively
on how to make their products more consumer friendly continuously in line
with the realities of the time.
In his address of welcome email earlier, Chairman of the Dangote Flour,
Mr. Asue Ighodalo said the distributors have proven to be dependable
allies with their patronage of Dangote products and loyal to the brands in
all circumstances.
The Dangote Flour boss said 2016 was in it deed a difficult years for
most businesses saying some closed down, some scaled down their operations
and in the process retrenchment their staff. Dangote food companies rather
absorbed the substantial higher cost of inputs so that the customers would
remain in profitable business
“However, it is to your credits our dear distributors that in that
particular challenging year, Dangote Food companies waxed stronger,
produced more, sold, more and gave returns to all stakeholders hence our
gathering together tonight. Tonight is your night, and tonight is your
day”, he stated.
He said no region in the country did not do well and that is why the
companies are happy to reward them bountifully. Ighodalo challenged them
not to rest on their oars but strive to sell more.