As part of its regular business portfolio review, Dangote Flour Mills (DFM), has exited its noodles business as it does not consider it strategic. The company has sold the assets of Dangote Noodles to Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie noodles.
To smoothen the transition, DFM has offered Dufil the use of some of its facilities on an interim basis.
The noodles business was part of Dangote Flour Mills which the Dangote Group recently re-acquired from Tiger Brands.
Group Managing Director, Dangote Flour Mills, Thabo Mabo, said the divestment is part of strategies of focusing on core areas of flour and pasta production where the company has substantial market share.
He said that with the divestment, Dangote Flour will now focus on its strengths in flour and pasta and become more profitable by improving in areas of quality, distribution and marketing.
The transaction which became effective last Monday, according to him, “is a win-win situation for Dangote Flour Mills, Dufil Prima Foods and staff of Dangote Noodles”, as Dangote Flour stands to boost more market presence through robust marketing.
He described the sale and transfer of assets as one of the most perfect of divestments, with Dufil Prima Foods taking possession and kicking off production immediately.
Under the terms of the sales agreement, Dufil Prima Foods, according to him, will continue to produce and sell noodles under the brand name, ‘Dangote Noodles’ for two years before changing the brand name.
Chief Executive Officer, Dufil Prima Foods, Deepak Singhal, confirmed the deal and described the acquirement of Dangote Noodles as strategic as they continue to seek more dominance of the noodles market.
Acquiring Dangote Noodles, he said will help Dufil Prima Foods deepen and sustain their market share as well as gain a strategic advantage in terms of several ranges of noodles products in their stable.
He re-stated that they are not shutting down the noodles production line but are commencing production with the brand name of Dangote Noodles immediately.
To ensure a seamless transition and commencement of production, he said most of the former staff of Dangote Noodles are to be employed as staff of Dufil Prima Foods.
With the new development, some former staff of Dangote noodles will transit to Dufil Prima Foods, while the rest redundant workers are being adequately compensated with mouth-watering severance packages for their services to the company over the years.
He said the terms of the severance package were agreed with the relevant trade unions and staff were being paid off immediately to enable those retained by the new owners to start on a fresh contract while those who will not be retained will not have to wait for their benefits.