3.5.1 Food Suppliers

Overview Retail Sector Wholesale

Overview

In Benin, cotton accounted for 38.7% of export earnings in 2013 (up 41.8% compared to 2012). The cultivation of cashews grew strongly between 2010 and 2015, making Benin the fifth largest producer in the world, with between 120,000 and 180,000 tons of cashew nuts per year. Cashew is now the second largest agricultural product exported after cotton, accounting for 7% of GDP. Ground nuts are also among the main products exported.

The structure of the Beninese economy is largely determined by its strategic position on the West African coast, next to Nigeria. Opportunities of formal or informal trade with Nigeria and the service opportunities of the landlocked countries of the hinterland have led to little diversification of the Beninese economy. In September 2013, inflation was reduced to 3.2% in average variation (against 6.2% in 2012), slightly above the UEMOA convergence criterion of 3%. The primary sector accounted for 32.2% of GDP in 2011. While the country has considerable agricultural potential, only 20% of arable land is exploited. Agricultural yields show considerable margins of increase. Agriculture accounts for 37.1% of GDP.

The three largest agricultural crops in Benin in 2011 (grown for local livelihood) were cassava (3,645,000 tonnes), yams (2,734,000 tonnes) and maize (1,165,000 tonnes). Benin also produces cocoa, beans, rice, pineapples and other tubers.

Additional information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

WFP Vulnerability and Analysis Mapping (VAM): Benin

Go Africa Online Benin Wholesalers

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List

Retail Sector

Types of Retailers Available

Type of Retailer Rank (1-5) where 1 is the most commonly used by the population, and 5 is the least commonly used.

Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and 5 sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.

Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products 4 than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.

Permanent shop with strong supply capacity – individually/family owned store; usually offers 3 fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.

Permanent shop with limited supply capacity – individually/family owned store; offers fewer 1 commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.

Mobile Shop/Market Stand – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities 1 and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.

Wholesale

Most wholesalers are based in and some principal towns but can be found in all cities. The wholesalers that are listed in contact list 4.10 can be requested to deliver throughout the country if required. On occasions wholesalers have supplied school canteens directly.

Supplier Overview

Company Name Suppliers of cereals, pulses, sugar, edible oils, sugar, salt and more

Address Cotonou, Porto Novo, Ouida, , , , and Savé.

Has own Rare suppliers have their own chain of production in the sense that it makes up most of the supply. Will usually collect food in areas Production / where they are known. Manufacturing capacity?

Page 1 Has own Retail Most will combine retail and wholesale in the city where they are based. Import based wholesalers are more likely to specialise. capacity? Some wholesalers such as will have extensive networks.

Has own Some have their own transport capacity. All listed in page 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List can arrange transport. transport capacity?

Has own The suppliers listed in section 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List have storage facilities, either rented or owned. storage facilities?

Approximate Most wholesalers in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List can be relied on for tonnages up to 1,000 mt per procurement turnover in MT? but may encounter problems if this limit is exceeded. For quantities surpassing 1,000 mt wholesalers such as ETG SARL, Sociéte Sherika Oluwa Toyin, Société DIFEZI et Fils,have the capacity to meet demands.

Payment Cash, bank transfer, checks Methods Accepted

Other Taxes are applicable on the markets transactions in Benin Comments or Key Information

Other Locations

Region(s) Service Location(s)

Littoral – Louémé-Zou-Borgou- Atakora, etc. Cotonou (), Porto Novo (Louémé), Bohicon (Zou), Parakou (Borgou), Natitingou (Atakora)

Plateau - Donga- Alibori- Atlantique Pobè- Djougou- Kandi- Ouida

Primary Goods / Commodities Available

Commodities by Type** Comments:

00 - Live animals i.e. sheep and goats, Can be obtained through market places for this purpose throughout the country. Mostly cattle, (other than fish, swine, poultry… sheep, cows. The biggest market offerings are from June and February. Pig farms are crustaceans, established for all months of the year but have more offering in December during the end of year molluscs, etc.) seasonal holidays.

01 - Meat and meat i.e. meat of bovine Locally produced all year long. Can be obtained through Abattoirs of Cotonou and in the principal preparations animals, meat of sheep, towns or through wholesalers such as Miseboo, Akpakpa Markets and the Supermarkets. dried or smoked meat of swine, sausages…

02 - Dairy products i.e. milk, yogurt, butter, Local production. Benin doesn’t have an industrial of mill production. The traditional technology and birds’ eggs cheese, eggs… of production of Fulani cheese called waragashi occupies an important place in the artisanal processing of fresh milk.

03 - Fish (not i.e. fish (chilled or frozen), Obtainable through markets (local fishery) and supermarkets and small wholesalers linked to the marine mammals), fish (salted or in brine), fish port of Cotonou and the local fishers in the lakes, rivers. crustaceans, liver and roes… molluscs…

04 - Cereals and i.e. wheat, rice, flour of Maize, rice, sorghum and millet are locally produced, other products are imported. The larger cereal preparations maize, pasta... wholesalers can be found in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List.

05 - Vegetables and i.e. vegetables, fruit and Mostly imported. Some quantities of fruits, mangoes, oranges, onions are local produced. They fruit nuts, jams/jellies, fruit can be found through retailers and local markets. juices…

06 - Sugars, sugar i.e. sugars (beet or cane) Brown sugar is produced in Benin, but not in enough quantity to be exported on regular basis. preparations and raw, natural honey, fruit Benin imports other sugars. The local honey as well. The larger import wholesalers can be found honey /nuts preserved by sugar. in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List.

07 - Coffee, tea, i.e. coffee, cocoa, Some quantities produced in Benin. But the quantity is insufficient. The largest quantity is cocoa, spices and chocolate, tea, mate, Imported. The larger import wholesalers can be found in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier manufactures pepper… Contact List. thereof

09 - Miscellaneous i.e. ready-to-eat foods, Will produce ready-to-eat foods locally. edible products and margarine, sauces, soups preparations and broths, yeasts…

Page 2 41 - Animal oils and i.e. ready-to-eat foods, Some small societies have been mentioned as producer of ready-to-eat foods locally, around fats margarine, sauces, soups Cotonou and Porto Novo. and broths, yeasts…

42/43 - Fixed i.e. soya bean oil, olive oil, Fludor in Bohicon has a processing factory for edible oils. vegetable fats and maize oil, vegetable oil… oils, crude, refined or fractionated

**For non-food products please see section 3.5.2, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

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