Amethis, the private equity company that has backed Kenya’s Naivas supermarket chain, has taken a “significant” minority stake in Senegalese pasta manufacturer Nouvelle Minoterie Africaine (NMA). NMA was founded in 2000 and produces and distributes wheat flour, pasta and animal feed.
Amethis has investments in a range of businesses in Africa including Naivas, Kenafric (Kenya, confectionery), Ramco (Kenya, packaging), Merec (Mozambique, pasta and flour) and Mutandis (Morocco, household care). In October 2019 it sold its stake in leading Ivorian grocery retailer CDCI.
NMA is a major player in Senegal’s animal feeds market with its Khonte livestock feed brand. It is the West African partner of France’s leader in animal nutrition, Sanders. Sanders is owned by Groupe Avril, which also owns the Lesieur edible oils brand. In January this year, the company’s Moroccan subsidiary Lesieur Cristal, took over Groupe Avril’s activity in Africa including the acquisition of Senegalese edible oils company Oleosen.
NMA’s daily production capacity is 400 tonnes of animal feed, 250 tonnes of flour and 55 tonnes of pasta. It sells pasta under the Pastami brand, produced in a separate factory in Dakar.
