Elephant Foods Company Limited is the indigenous manufacturers of premium-quality spices : UBELEPHANT coconut flavoured blends, UBELEPHANT thyme leaves, Chefking Curry POWDER, Chefking Thyme leaves,
Turmeric, Ginger and GARLIC powder. The products are sourced locally and processed to international standards.
In this Exclusive Interview with Industrial Times, Nnanna Ephraim, the company’s CEO, shares inspiring facts about the company’s origin, the products uniqueness, operating challenges, and outlook for the future. Except:
How did you come about the brand name Elephant Foods?
I’m glad you asked about the origin of our brand name, Elephant Foods Company.
The idea came to me during a brainstorming session in 2011 after my deceased father was experiencing stroke and I came across keeping people to look after him in a way of manufacturing and packaging spices products UBELEPHANT COCONUT FLAVOR POWDERED so the workers can look after him too.
In 2014, we wanted a name that would reflect our values, be memorable, and resonate with our target audience and that’s when we Registered it with CAC in 2014 as ELEPHANT FOODS COMPANY.
“We drew inspiration from the elephant’s characteristics.
We combined these traits with our passion for food and nutrition, and Elephant Foods Company Limited was registered with CAC in 2021.
Our name represents our mission to provide nourishing products that make a positive impact on people’s lives and the planet.
The name has since become an integral part of our brand identity, guiding our decisions and actions as we strive to make a difference in the food industry.
How long has the company been in operations?
Elephant Foods has been in operations since 23 December, 2011.
Elephant Foods Company was Registered with CAC on 27 June, 2014, while Elephant Foods Company limited was registered with CAC on 3 September, 2021.
Who are the company’s Board of Directors?
Elephant Foods is the brainchild of NNANNA EPHRAIM, the Chief Executive Officer (Ceo), and GIFT ONYEMA.
What informed the company’s investment in the Nigerian seasoning industry? And what gap are you filling?
As an indigenous company in Nigeria, our investment in the Nigerian spices industry was informed by a combination of factors.
We saw a growing demand for high-quality spices, driven by consumer trends and a lack of consistent supply.
Our research revealed a gap in the market for a company that could provide premium-quality spices, sourced locally and processed to international standards.
We’re filling this gap by investing in local farming communities, implementing sustainable practices, and using state-of-the-art processing technology to produce unique and aromatic spice blends.
Our goal is to promote sustainable agriculture, support local economies, and bring authentic flavors to consumers, while establishing Elephant Foods Company as a leader in the Nigerian spices industry.
We demonstrates (1)Market insight, (2)Strategic thinking; (3)Unique value proposition, and (4)Alignment with company’s mission.
What are the range of products being manufactured by Elephant Foods.?
Elephant Foods Company is proud to offer a diverse range of products, including our core spice blends, product lines, speciality products, and custom blending services.
Our product range includes:
– UBELEPHANT Coconut flavoured blends,
– UBELEPHANT thyme leaves
– Chefking Curry POWDER, Chefking Thyme leaves,Turmeric, Ginger and GARLIC powder.
In addition, we provide custom blending services for food manufacturers, Restaurants, and food service providers, creating unique spices blends to their specific needs.
We’re committed to using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients and innovative processing techniques to bring authentic flavors to our customers.
How are you sourcing the raw materials, and what’s the percentage of the contents being sourced locally compare to the foreign ingredients?
At Elephant Foods Company, we’re committed to supporting local communities and reducing our carbon footprint.
We source approximately 80% of our raw materials like coconut, flavour enhancer, starch, turmeric ginger and garlic., laminated nylons plastic jars, paper cartoon, plain nylons, etc locally, partnering with Nigerian farmers and suppliers to ensure freshness and consistency.
The remaining 20% of our ingredients are sourced from foreign suppliers, primarily due to quality or availability issues.
However, we’re working to increase our local sourcing percentage through sustainability initiatives, such as farmer training programs and crop development projects. We maintain strict quality control measures to ensure that all ingredients meet our high standards, regardless of their origin.
There are several brands of seasonings in the market. How are you coping with markets penetration and competition challenges ?
In a competitive spice market, we differentiate ourselves through our unique selling proposition: high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.
Our innovative products, strong branding UBELEPHANT and Chefking, and customer engagement strategies help us build loyalty and awareness.
▪︎Nnanna Ephraim, Ceo Elephant Foods
” Funding support from the Bank of Industry and the Development Bank of Nigeria to expand our spice processing operations will contribute a big progress in our organization and it is funding like this from YOU WIN 2015 has kept us going to this extent…”
We maintain competitive pricing without compromising on quality, ensuring value for our customers. Strategic partnerships and continuous improvement enable us to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to market changes.
How are the government’s policies such as foreign exchange, Naira devaluation and inflation, affecting your operations?
The government’s policies, including foreign exchange restrictions, Naira devaluation, and inflation, have significantly impacted our operations.
We face challenges in importing high-quality spices, increased production costs, and reduced profit margins. Inflation has also led to higher costs across our supply chain, affecting our pricing strategy and competitiveness.
We are working to adapt to these changes and find ways to mitigate their impact on our business.
What about funding supports from the development banks like the Bank of Industry, and the Development Bank of Nigeria , and the Bank of Agriculture to expand your operations?
Funding support from the Bank of Industry and the Development Bank of Nigeria to expand our spice processing operations will contribute a big progress in our organization and it is funding like this from YOU WIN 2015 that has kept us going to this extent which we utilized in expanding to this level we are now.
Support from BoI, or other Development Banks will help us to:
(1)Scale up production capacity by 50% (2) Invest in new equipment and technology (3) Increase our workforce by 20%.
Our expansion plans will contribute to job creation, local economic growth, and increased export earnings.
We have a solid business plan and financial projections, demonstrating our ability to repay loans.
Our project aligns with the banks’ objectives of supporting SMEs and promoting industrialization.
We are prepared to offer collateral and guarantees as required.
We believe that with funding support from your esteemed institutions, we can achieve our growth plans and make a meaningful contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.
What’s the company’s outlook for the next five or ten years?
Over the next five to ten years, Elephant Foods Company aims to:
Expand our operations to new regions, increasing production capacity by 200%.
Launch new product lines, including organic and specialty spice blends.
Become the leading spice processing company in Nigeria, known for quality and sustainability.
Increase export earnings by 500%, expanding our customer base in Africa and beyond.
Implement sustainable practices, reducing our environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility.
We are committed to driving growth, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring a bright future for our company, customers, and stakeholders.
How is your company benefiting from the membership of MAN, NACCIMA, NESG , LCCI…?
We are proudly members of NACCIMA, and our MAN registration form is on process.
These membership offers numerous benefits like networking opportunities, market information and trade missions,policy discussions, and research, etc.