NASCON Allied Industries Plc is stepping up its diversification drive with the launch of three Dangote seasoning products, deepening its push into Nigeria’s competitive consumer food market as manufacturers seek new growth opportunities beyond traditional product lines.
The company unveiled Dangote Classic, Dangote Beef Seasoning and Dangote Chicken Seasoning at the 2026 40th Lagos International Trade Fair, marking a fresh push to expand its seasoning business and strengthen its presence in Nigerian households.
Aderemi Saka, managing director and chief executive officer of NASCON Allied Industries, launched the products during the Dangote Group Special Day at the trade fair, alongside officials from the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The launch signals NASCON’s ambition to diversify beyond its traditional salt-refining operations, leveraging its established household brand to compete in the seasoning market.
“For over 50 years, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, also known as Dangote Salt, has been a leading salt refiner in Nigeria and a trusted name in Nigerian households,” Saka said.
She said the company ventured into the seasoning market in 2014 in response to changing consumer preferences and the need to diversify its product portfolio.
“The reintroduction of Dangote Classic and the introduction of Dangote Beef Seasoning and Dangote Chicken Seasoning reflect our commitment to product innovation, greater consumer choice and quality seasoning solutions specially tailored to Nigerian consumers,” she said.
The expansion comes as consumer goods manufacturers navigate changing household spending patterns, intensifying competition and pressure to develop products that appeal to different consumer segments.
For NASCON, extending its seasoning portfolio provides an opportunity to leverage its existing distribution network and brand recognition to deepen its participation in Nigeria’s packaged food market.
Saka said the company would continue developing products that enhance everyday cooking, improve meal experiences and deliver value to households.
The Lagos International Trade Fair, she added, provides an important platform for the company to engage consumers, distributors and business partners while showcasing its expanding range of food products.
The product unveiling also formed part of a broader effort by parent company Dangote Industries Limited to reinforce its manufacturing-led growth strategy and position domestic production as a driver of economic development and regional trade.
Speaking at the event, Fatima Aliko-Dangote, group executive director, commercial operations at Dangote Industries Limited, said sustainable economic growth must be anchored on production rather than trading.
She argued that manufacturing creates employment, develops technical skills and transforms raw materials into higher-value products, adding that the philosophy has shaped the group’s transition from trading into large-scale industrial production.
Dangote Cement, she said, has an installed production capacity of approximately 55 million tonnes annually across Africa, while investments in petroleum refining, fertiliser and other industries are aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening the continent’s export capacity.
Under its Vision 2030 growth agenda, the group plans to increase the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.
It also plans to expand fertiliser production capacity to 12 million metric tonnes and increase polypropylene production to support industries including packaging, textiles, automotive, medical and construction.
The group is also pursuing investments across several African markets, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Namibia.
In Namibia, a $140 million tank farm near Walvis Bay is expected to strengthen the country’s position as an Atlantic energy gateway.
Meanwhile, Leye Kupoluyi, president and chairman of council of the LCCI, described Dangote Industries as a benchmark for industrial investment and manufacturing ambition in Nigeria.
He said investments across cement, fertiliser, petroleum refining and consumer goods demonstrate the capacity of private-sector capital to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on imported products.
Kupoluyi said Nigeria was gradually transitioning from macroeconomic stabilisation towards production-led growth, citing improvements in economic growth and external reserves.
However, he warned that structural constraints, particularly unreliable electricity supply, high transportation and logistics costs, and unpredictable fiscal policies, continue to undermine manufacturers’ competitiveness.
He urged the government to address these challenges to lower operating costs, improve the investment climate, and encourage more large-scale manufacturing investments across the economy.
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.
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