Nigerian supermarket, food-service and trading groups will travel to Paris this month to court international suppliers, as pressure builds on the country’s food industry to fix weak processing, storage and distribution.
SIAL Paris 2026, the world’s largest professional food trade exhibition, runs from October 17 to 21 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France. Organisers expect 8,000 exhibitors and 400,000 products.
Akin Akinbola, representative of Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, said Promosalons will lead a business delegation drawn from the National Association of Supermarket Operators of Nigeria, the Association of Professional Food Service Providers of Nigeria and the National Association of Nigerian Traders.
According to a statement by the organisers, the trip comes as operators face demands to improve supply chains, strengthen local processing, cut post-harvest losses and respond to shifting consumer preferences.
A report accompanying the exhibition ties those demands to urbanisation. It cites United Nations estimates that 68 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, up from 55 percent in 2018, a shift expected to reshape food production, processing, packaging, storage and distribution. City consumers increasingly want convenience, ready-to-eat meals, modern retail, food delivery and dependable distribution.
Citing Market Research Store, the report puts Nigeria’s food and drink market at about $53.87 billion in 2024, rising to $84.83 billion by 2032.
“Capturing that growth requires more than higher output. Nigeria must process, preserve and distribute food efficiently while meeting demand for consistent quality at affordable prices,” the statement disclosed.
This year’s show marks the 30th anniversary of SIAL Innovation, organised with ProtéinesXTC. According to the September press release, 2,750 products were submitted and 775 selected, a record for the anniversary edition. Entries include plant-based steak, protein-rich surimi noodles, fermented fruit drinks, water-fried potato chips and packaging that reduces refrigeration needs. Other entries convert food-processing by-products into higher-value ingredients.
For Nigerian businesses, the innovations offer ideas for diversifying supermarket shelves, improving catering operations and developing locally adapted products. Adoption will depend on affordability, consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance and adequate storage and distribution infrastructure.
Visitors can sample more than 100 selected products at SIAL Taste, while SIAL Live will host talks on food innovation. The Public Choice and Top 3 Countries awards are scheduled for October 20. Comexposium organises the event, which belongs to the SIAL Network of food and beverage trade events.
The delegation’s value will depend on how well members convert contacts and knowledge from Paris into practical gains at home. Stronger local processing, better preservation, efficient logistics, and affordable innovation will determine whether Nigeria turns its expanding food market into industrial growth, investment, and employment.
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Chinwe Michael is a Nigerian business journalist and media professional with over 4 years of experience covering companies, financial markets, banking, fintech, economic policy, financial inclusion, and corporate affairs. She currently leads the Companies & Markets desk at BusinessDay, where she drives coverage of Nigeria’s corporate and capital markets, translates complex financial data into accessible stories, and mentors younger journalists. Prior to that, she was the head of the financial inclusion/fintech desk. With a background in banking and finance and extensive experience in media and communications, Michael has developed expertise in financial journalism, economic analysis, investigative reporting and market intelligence. Her work examines how monetary policy, corporate performance, capital flows, technology, and regulatory decisions affect businesses, investors, and households. She was selected from about 3,000 applicants as one of 20 journalists for Cohort 4 of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, gaining exposure to new approaches to journalism, technology, and media innovation. Her international journalism experience and engagement with professionals across Russia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and others in different sectors have further broadened her understanding of global communication and development.
