Cargill's first base in Algeria - for texturizers

08-Jan-2009 - Last updated on 08-Jan-2009 at 13:20 GMT

Cargill Texturizing Solutions has set up the global corporation’s first office in Algeria, as it spies growing opportunities for its ingredient range in the high growth North African market.

The global agrifoods giant has a long history of trade in Algeria. Indeed the texturizing business has sold its wares (hydrocolloids soy flours, starches, lecithins, cultures and enzymes and multi-component functional systems) for more than 20 years there via local agents.

Denis Palacioglu, sales manager for Middle-East and Africa at Cargill Texturizing Solutions, said the company has an overall aim of being in close proximity to customers at local levels.

“Wherever we feel the market evolution deserves a stronger presence, we take up the challenge by moving closer to it, and immersing ourselves. This is certainly the case with Algeria.”

The new office in Hydra, Algiers, opened at the beginning of December and is headed by Rabah Zaarir, market manager for Algeria.

He added: “The market has been steadily growing in volume and sophistication of product offering, so the nearer we are to local food manufacturers, the better we can understand how the market is evolving.

This new office means we are more in touch with our customers’ needs, as well as regional eating habits and manufacturing processes.”

In terms of R&D and technical expertise, the company offers support from experts at its European R&D centres in Belgium, France, Holland and Spain. These centres are geared to serve the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Market potential

A report from Euromonitor International Packaged Food in Algeria, published in April 2008, highlighted good growth potential in categories that are less developed in the market, such as frozen foods, time-savers like ready meals and breakfast cereals, and indulgent goods like chocolate confectionery.

Products like yoghurt and fromage frais, which have a healthy appeal, could also prove popular.

Factors stimulating demand for these goods are said to include “stable and favourable macroeconomic conditions”, brought about by gas and oil revenues and revival in agriculture.

More mature categories, such as bakery products and vegetable and seed oils, are expected to have only moderate growth