Refriango and Pascual have begun producing UHT milk and powdered milk in Angola through the joint venture LACTO-RP. In the coming years, their ambition is to become market leaders and help the country achieve self-sufficiency in dairy products. The formalization of the alliance between Pascual and Refriango, as well as the inauguration of the new milk production line, took place officially on the 25th of this month at the Kikuxi Industrial Complex in Luanda.
Luanda, February 25, 2023 – In partnership with Refriango, Pascual has started producing and selling a total of 19 products in Angola (5 UHT milk products and 14 powdered milk products). Pascual has been in the country for over 25 years and is the preferred brand for Angolans when it comes to yogurt.
Pascual milk is being produced by Refriango at one of Africa’s most advanced industrial complexes, where a new milk production line, created from scratch with cutting-edge technology, will drive the production of this essential food in Angola. One of the key goals of the Pascual-Refriango partnership is to make the country self-sufficient in dairy products.
For Pascual, this new phase in Angola marks the beginning of a new business strategy for the Spanish brand, which aims to gradually replace exports with local production and marketing in key international markets. Angola was the first country chosen to implement this plan.
Currently, LACTO-RP is also studying the feasibility of investing in other projects in Angola, given the sector’s great growth and development potential.
With ongoing projects and new investment opportunities on the table, Pascual is positioning itself as a pioneer in the development of African markets. "Our presence in Angola for over 25 years, with our yogurt products, has exceeded our expectations. We are already leaders in this segment, and we are determined to become a reference in dairy products and continue to open new business lines. We want to contribute not only to Angola’s development but also to its social growth. Our ambition is for the country to be able to sustain itself without relying on imports, with nutritious products of the highest quality, while creating jobs throughout the region," said Tomás Meléndez, the company’s International Director.
Diogo Caldas, CEO of Refriango, stated, "It is a huge privilege for Refriango to partner with Pascual to develop the dairy sector in Angola. Innovation is at the core of our DNA, and the production of dairy products complements our portfolio and ensures the development of the value chain. We believe we have done a good job in the industrial sector, and these international partners are a testament to the recognition of our industrial park. All these factors place us at a level of recognition and capability to offer our partner the highest-quality production. The industrial know-how and teamwork with Nuvibrands will proudly ensure our mission of bringing people closer."
The CEO of Refriango also emphasized, "We have great confidence in Angola’s potential to become an important supplier of beverages to Southern Africa, given its installed capacity and quality production."
A Major Investment in Social Development and Communities in Angola
In recent decades, Pascual has introduced Angolans to complete, healthy products with great quality and nutritional value, all at affordable prices. This relationship is especially strong with children and teenagers, who represent half of the country's population.
In this regard, the Spanish brand is running several projects aimed at positively impacting Angolan society through its products. One example is the "Professor Pascual" initiative, created in partnership with Refriango and UNESCO. The program aims to educate young people about nutrition and healthy eating, thus improving their quality of life.
In addition to "Professor Pascual," the brand is developing other social projects in Angola through the Tomás Pascual and Pilar Gómez-Cuétara Foundation. One such initiative is "Water for All," which aims to improve access to clean drinking water for underserved populations.
From Export to Internationalization
Alongside the start of milk production in Angola, Pascual is planning to produce in Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, replicating the "Angolan model" in other countries where it already has a strong export presence.
With trusted and established partners, such as Refriango in Angola, Pascual expects to achieve a total international turnover of 125 million euros over the next three years (+165%).
To date, Pascual's international presence has been based on an export strategy, with the company established in 60 countries and achieving a turnover of 46.6 million euros, accounting for 6% of its total business.
Pascual’s collaboration model in these countries is based on creating joint ventures with 50% joint capital with reliable local partners in each territory. Pascual contributes its experience and consumer knowledge, as well as its expertise in product manufacturing. In turn, its partners contribute local knowledge, distribution capacity, manufacturing infrastructure, and their commercial networks. It is important to note that Pascual adapts its products to the needs and dietary habits of each country, so the products distributed in each territory will differ.
