Building a nutritionally resilient food brand in Nigeria
In an ambitious transcontinental effort, the University of Hertfordshire and Bells University of Technology in Nigeria partnered with Distrifoods Nigeria to deliver a two‑year African Agricultural Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP) project running from January 2024 to January 2026.
Distrifoods Nigeria is a food innovation company based in Jos. They produce affordable, nutrient‑rich staple foods made from locally sourced crops such as Kass, Gyero, Tamba, Doro, Kaura, and Acha. Their products are designed to fit everyday Nigerian diets while improving nutrition.
The project had two main goals:
- reduce undernutrition among vulnerable, low‑income groups - especially women of reproductive age and young children
- strengthen Distrifoods Nigeria’s operations by introducing new digital tools and data‑driven methods to improve efficiency.
Undernutrition remains a serious challenge in parts of Nigeria, contributing to poor pregnancy outcomes and stunted child growth, making the development of safe, affordable, locally produced fortified foods especially important.
Collaborative contributions and innovations
Through the AAKTP, the University of Hertfordshire and Bells University combined their strengths to address this need: the University of Hertfordshire improved Distrifoods Nigeria’s supply chain by mapping processes and introducing digital tools for planning and inventory, while Bells University refined product formulations and processing methods to create nutritious, affordable foods suited to local diets. These efforts enabled the company to produce fortified multigrain pap, multigrain swallow, and a multigrain snack bar under the Xpressbite® brand, all of which underwent rigorous safety testing - including checks for contaminants linked to irrigation from abandoned mining areas - to build consumer trust and ensure product safety. Operational upgrades, such as new Standard Operating Procedures and staff training, further streamlined production, reduced costs, and improved affordability.
Impact on industry, communities, and academia
The collaboration also strengthened academic learning, giving teams from both universities the chance to apply research to real‑world challenges across food technology and operations management. Despite the partners being in different countries, the KTP Associate kept communication smooth and ensured the project stayed on track. The impact on Distrifoods Nigeria has been significant, earning the company several awards, including the 2024 National Nutrition Champion (SUN Business Network), the 2024 Most Recognised in Functional Foods Innovation and Distribution (Nigeria Agribusiness Group), and the 2025 West Africa Fortified Innovation Challenge (Nutrition Connect). The project not only improved company performance and expanded access to fortified foods for vulnerable groups, but also supported women smallholder farmers and female‑led agribusinesses through the use of locally sourced ingredients and targeted market research.
The AAKTP contributed to academic development as well, supporting two undergraduate projects, three Master’s dissertations, and one PhD in Nigeria. Joint research papers are in progress, and findings have been presented at major conferences, including the British Academy of Management Conference (2025) and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria’s Annual Scientific Conference (2025). Further community‑focused activities are planned through workshops, nutrition groups, and online outreach.
A testament to the wide-ranging impact of this project, final report assessors at Innovate UK awarded it the highest grading of “Outstanding” which qualifies the team to apply to the upcoming KTP Awards competition.
Future growth and long‑term outlook
Looking ahead, the AAKTP has positioned Distrifoods Nigeria for major growth, with plans to become a global ethical brand by 2030. The company is preparing for export opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and expects strong sales growth by 2028/29. Project innovations have opened new revenue streams, expanding the business from snacks into breakfast products. Operational improvements have created 18 new permanent jobs and 12 temporary roles, and the financial impact has been significant: 80% of 2025 profits came from AAKTP‑developed products, with 28% of sales driven by new market access. The project also strengthened the company’s technical capabilities in fermentation, market analysis, quality assurance, and HACCP planning. Together, these achievements set Distrifoods Nigeria on a strong path toward long‑term growth and wider regional impact.