Nigeria: FCMB backs ReelFruit’s sustainable manufacturing efforts

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has restated its dedication to sustainable manufacturing, aiming to reduce environmental harm and conserve energy and resources.

The inauguration of Nature’s Bounty Health Products Limited’s dried fruit manufacturing plant in Abeokuta, Ogun State, financed by FCMB, showcases the bank’s support for sustainable business practices.

The 800-metric-ton plant underscores Nature’s Bounty’s dedication to large-scale production and environmental stewardship.

Nature’s Bounty Health Products Limited, known as ReelFruit, is a Nigerian food technology startup that transforms local fruits like mangoes, coconuts, and cashews into nutritious snacks, reducing post-harvest wastage and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.

The company’s emphasis on social impact and promoting Nigerian products globally drove the expansion, enabling it to increase production from 6 to 30 metric tons monthly and create over 200 jobs.

Speaking at the commissioning of the plant, Mrs. Yemisi Edun, Managing Director of First City Monument Bank, said: “FCMB consistently supports businesses that share our vision of a sustainable and inclusive Nigeria.

“Nature’s Bounty Health Products and its brand, ReelFruit, embodies this commitment, adding value to local produce while prioritizing sustainable manufacturing practices and job creation. Their energy-efficient machinery and advanced effluent system has set a standard for the agribusiness sector.”

Affiong Williams, Founder and CEO of Nature’s Bounty Health Products, said: “This facility is more than just bricks and mortar; it embodies my unwavering belief in Nigeria’s agricultural and manufacturing potential. With this factory, we are scaling our dried fruit production to serve customers nationwide, export ‘Made in Nigeria’ products globally, and transform agribusiness”.

Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, called the new plant “a testimony to the can-do spirit of Nigerians.