Krispy Kreme launched in Nigeria in March 2018, opening stores in Ikeja City Mall and in May 2018, at Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island. The business is rapidly expanding, with further locations shortly to be announced. The company has recruited and trained over 120 Nigerians, in a short space of time, and focuses on providing freshly made doughnuts, coffee and other beverages daily across Lagos. The business has been funded by a group of international and African investors, committed to growing a business differentiated by its commitment to the highest quality retail environment, staff empowerment and training and a belief in delivering world class standard products to Nigerians, without compromise – a role model of responsible inward investment.
Recent press and social media commentary referred to the brief closure of their stores, whilst they went through regulatory assessment by the National Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).
As confirmed in a statement released by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) for both agencies, Krispy Kreme Nigeria products are safe for consumption.
The statement further confirmed that NAFDAC has carried out all processes to ensure health standards are met in the Krispy Kreme outlet in Victoria Island, Lagos and has consequently been given the permission to reopen its outlet for business to the public.
The official statement signed by the Director-General of CPC, partly reads;
“NAFDAC has pursued it process accordingly. NAFDAC has also permitted Krispy Kreme to reopen and continue its business because NAFDAC is satisfied that their operations and consumption of their products currently meet prevailing safety standards”
“NAFDAC, as a primary and key food safety standards regulator, has demonstrated a timely intervention that promotes and ensures safety, consumer access and business continuity”
QFA Nigeria Limited, the franchisee for Krispy Kreme in Nigeria, also stated that:
“We are pleased to see the result of this regulatory intervention and that the quality of our products and process has been confirmed. We would like to state, without equivocation, that at all times our products and raw materials, were in conformity with Krispy Kreme’s global standards.”
“Most importantly, it is fundamental to our philosophy that our customers in Nigeria are treated as well, if not better than anywhere else – without any discrimination. We have built the finest retail outlets in Lagos, we have invested in the best staff and we make the most awesome doughnuts – fresh every day. Our processes are transparent, underlined by the fact our production process in our stores is open to view.”
“We thank our patient customers and staff and are glad to open our doors for operation. We reaffirm our commitment to the highest quality standards and safety of our products to our esteemed and loyal consumers by not taking them for granted in anyway.”
They added “We understand that any regulator needs to act with caution. Consumer protection should be paramount, and we respect this. We understand all too often the Nigerian consumer has been let down historically on product quality and needs strong champions – now and going forward. We operate to very high standards and consequently see our operating procedures and protocols as a differentiation in the market place.”
“We are pleased to be able to be back in business – doing what we intended to do – providing the best product to our great clients and being a responsible corporate citizen.”
Krispy Kreme Nigeria is open for business as usual from 7am to 10pm daily.
Then what was all the fuss about closing it down a few weeks back and making a whole lot of noise if the same body is now saying their food is safe to eat? Isn’t that speaking from 2 sides of their mouth?