Agri-food

Morocco
Dispute with Boissons du Maroc disrupts supplies to Label'Vie-Carrefour supermarkets

The local subsidiary of France's Groupe Castel and the supermarket chain owned by Moroccan businessman Zouhaïr Bennani have failed to come to terms on their commercial partnership. As a result the country's biggest brewer has turned to Coopérative U, in which it recently acquired a stake.

Cameroon
ETG and Solevo, cotton sector's frontrunners for €36m fertiliser deal

The Mauritian group controlled by the Indian Patel family and the distributor owned by a British fund have submitted bids in response to the tender for the supply of inputs to the CNPC-C cotton growers' association.

The New Guard
South Sudan, Benin, Madagascar

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

South SudanAwow Daniel Chuang, taking charge of petroleum ministry

West AfricaJoé Dwèt Filé, from the stage to presidential palaces

MadagascarHoussen Mebobaly Safy, budding agribusiness entrepreneur

Algeria
French dairy industry struggles to maintain production amid diplomatic row

Food giants Danone and Bel are having a hard time keeping up with their local production pace, faced with stricter import rules and the ever-turbulent relationship between Paris and Algiers.

Ghana
Last-chance talks to salvage new cocoa season

Ghana's cocoa regulator, Cocobod, which owes local traders nearly €300m in unpaid bills from the 2025-26 season, reached a compromise with them at a meeting on 28 September. On the ground, the 2026-27 season has only just started, almost a month late.

Morocco
OCP CEO Terrab turns to Mohammed VI University for help on sulphur

Highly dependent on this element for fertiliser production, phosphate giant OCP Group is turning to its academic arm to find alternatives.

The New Guard
Gabon, Libya, Chad

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

GabonJacques-Arnaud Hervé Cangah, Oligui Nguema's discreet financial adviser

LibyaAbdulla Gadir Boh, Tripoli's anti-fraud expert

ChadHissein Mahamoud Barkai wins over French palates

Cameroon
Sosucam's disposal plans thwarted by Castel's heiress

The brewing group is struggling to persuade the Cameroonian government to approve the sale of the sugar company to a consortium of buyers. Opposed to this decision by CEO Gregory Clerc, Pierre Castel's daughter is pulling strings to delay any decision.

Cameroon, Ivory Coast
Céréalis gathers major milling clients in Paris for 30th anniversary

A major player in the agri-food sector, having exported some 900,000 tonnes to Central and West Africa in 2025, the French trader hosted a large delegation in Paris on 17 September.

Madagascar
Junta abandons both vanilla house projects

In Antananarivo, the renovation of the home of French industrialist Jean Laborde, which was to be transformed into a showcase for the Madagascan vanilla industry, is no longer among the priorities of the junta led by Colonel Michaël Randrianirina.

Morocco
Tycoon Chakib Alj broadens reach in grains market

The recent buyer of Moroccan miller Forafric, Cap Holding has quietly launched into developing its trading business, supplying products for both human and animal consumption.

Ivory Coast
Cocoa traders open talks with state to pre-empt tax reassessments

Led by Cargill's regional chief, international exporters want to enter into discussion with Ivory Coast's authorities to avoid disputes with the tax office and customs, which were frequent in previous seasons.

Nigeria
European commissioner for agriculture expected in Lagos for cocoa conference

Christophe Hansen, from Luxembourg, was invited by the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa to take part in the Africa Cocoa and Coffee Conference, held in Nigeria’s economic capital on 7 and 8 October.