Regulators, Stakeholders Applaud Rite Foods for Safe Manufacturing, Boosting Consumer Confidence

Regulators, Stakeholders Applaud Rite Foods for Safe Manufacturing, Boosting Consumer Confidence

Regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders have commended Rite Foods Limited for maintaining high standards in product safety and manufacturing, describing the company’s commitment to quality and transparency as a significant boost to consumer confidence in Nigeria’s food and beverage sector.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) gave the commendation during a stakeholder forum commemorating World Consumer Rights Day, themed “Safe Product, Confident Consumers.”

The forum was organised by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) and hosted by Rite Foods Limited at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Ososa, Ogun State.

The event brought together regulators, consumer advocates, and journalists to discuss the importance of product safety, responsible manufacturing, and consumer awareness in building a more accountable marketplace.

Observed annually on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day provides an opportunity to highlight the need for stronger consumer protection and increased trust in products and services.

In his welcome address, the General Manager of Operations at Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Femi Ajileye, said the company remains committed to producing world-class food and beverage products in line with global best practices.

According to him, Rite Foods continues to invest in advanced technology, automated production processes, and strict quality assurance systems to ensure that consumers receive safe and high-quality products.

“At Rite Foods, our philosophy is simply to consistently deliver safe, high-quality products that consumers can trust. Our investment in advanced technology, automated processes, and rigorous quality assurance reflects our dedicated commitment to excellence and consumer satisfaction,” Ajileye said.

He also emphasised that the company prioritises transparency and stakeholder engagement as part of its broader responsibility to consumers.

Speaking at the forum, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the FCCPC, Dr. Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Tunji Bello, said Rite Foods had demonstrated a strong commitment to consumer protection through transparent operations and adherence to high production standards.

She noted that opening its manufacturing facility to regulators, journalists, and other stakeholders reflects the company’s confidence in its processes.

Otti stressed that protecting consumers is a shared responsibility among regulators, manufacturers, and the media, adding that such engagements strengthen collaboration and accountability.

Also speaking, Dr. Tinuola Akinnubi, Deputy Director in the Food Regulatory Directorate of NAFDAC, who represented the agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted the importance of safeguarding consumer rights.

According to her, these rights include the right to safety, information, choice, redress, and the right to be heard.

“A protected consumer is a confident consumer, and confident consumers strengthen markets, which ultimately contribute to building strong nations,” she said.

Akinnubi added that strengthening Nigeria’s consumer protection ecosystem requires improved surveillance, enhanced post-market monitoring, increased stakeholder engagement, technology-driven traceability systems, and sustained consumer awareness campaigns.

In the keynote address, the President and Founder of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), Sola Salako, commended Rite Foods for hosting the forum and emphasised the role of technology in advancing consumer protection.

Speaking on the topic “Using AI to Improve Consumer Confidence,” Salako introduced the CAFON Consumer Companion (3C) App, a digital platform designed to help Nigerian consumers better understand and enforce their rights by guiding them on dispute resolution, complaint drafting, and identifying possible legal violations.

She also encouraged the media to leverage the platform to verify consumer complaints, investigate unfair practices, and promote accountability.

Salako further praised Rite Foods for opening its operations to regulators, journalists, and consumer advocates, noting that such transparency reflects strong confidence in the company’s production processes and product quality.

Chairman of BJAN, Dan Obi, also commended Rite Foods for granting journalists and regulators access to its production facility, describing the move as a demonstration of accountability.

“The level of professionalism, hygiene, and automation observed during the factory tour reinforces confidence in the quality of products coming from Rite Foods. This kind of openness strengthens public trust and promotes responsible industry practices,” Obi said.

Rite Foods’ product portfolio includes 13 variants of Bigi carbonated soft drinks, Bigi Premium Table Water, the award-winning Sosa Fruit Drink, Fearless Energy Drink, as well as Bigi Flex, Rite, and Bigi Beef Sausages.

The company has also received several industry recognitions, including the Outstanding FMCG Corporate Brand of the Year at the Edge Awards, alongside honours at the Sustainability, Innovation and Social Impact (SISA) Awards and the SERAS Awards.