As African beverage producers seek new ways to meet evolving tastes and market demands, Finwerd is offering insights into how players in the beverage sector can stir innovation, especially in the flavour aspect of the business.
This is made possible through the Finwerd Beverage Academy, which is now a formalized platform for capacity building that the company is leveraging to equip the industry — one innovation, one partnership, and one product at a time.
With operations spanning R&D, technical consulting, and now professional training, Finwerd is not just contributing to product development — it’s accelerating business development.
In a sector where speed-to-market and quality are everything, the company’s investment in knowledge sharing is creating ripples that benefit manufacturers, regulators, and consumers alike; highlighting its tagline – ‘Beyond Ingredients — A Business Enabler.’
Currently, Nigeria’s beverage sector is worth over $1.2 billion, and growing. But, behind the fizzy drinks and functional beverages flooding the market is a need for deeper expertise, stronger product formulation, and smarter flavour application.
That is where Finwerd is stepping in with its flavours and fragrances to help build capacity of industry players, not just as a supplier, but as a catalyst for growth.
With the largest dedicated flavour production plant in Africa, located in Lagos, Nigeria, Finwerd is transforming the region’s beverage industry through a combination of world-class manufacturing and cutting-edge knowledge transfer.
Read also: Nigeria holds potential to lead future of beverage innovation in Africa – Finwerd MD
At the recently concluded Finwerd Beverage Academy held in Lagos, over 40 participants from beverage companies across Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon came together for hands-on, technical training with the theme ‘Beverage Innovation, Application, and Technical Production.’
The academy, which featured high-impact sessions on flavour formulation, quality control, and regulatory best practices, is part of Finwerd’s long-term commitment to building capacity in the region’s beverage ecosystem.
“This is a collaborative journey rooted in innovation — designed to shape a proudly African beverage industry. Through the academy, we are not only transferring expertise but investing in local talents and building partnerships,” said Steven Kabuito, managing director, Finwerd Africa.
Beyond theory, the sessions tackled real-time production challenges, from flavour breakdowns during processing to inconsistencies in product taste.
Roel Meerwaldt, lead, process and quality at Finwerd BV, provided guidance from a global perspective for participants to explore practical ways to make flavours work effectively in their unique manufacturing environments.
“It’s not just about making a flavour. It’s about understanding how it behaves in real-world conditions — and how to get it right consistently,” Meerwaldt said.
The academy also offered insights on consumer trends, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, which are critical factors in product success and market entry.
Kingsley Udoakpan, commercial director, West Africa, said the company’s approach is to merge technical excellence with local market understanding. “This platform bridges the gap between innovation and implementation. We’re creating a space for experts to share, innovate, and lead.”
Attendees left with not just knowledge, but the tools to improve product quality, increase manufacturing efficiency, and drive competitive advantage outcomes that speak to both commercial and national economic interests.
Charles Nwachukwu, retired director of laboratory services at NAFDAC, said the training reflects a strategic shift toward enabling local innovation. “Participants may come from different companies, but what they take back will shape product development across the region.”
