Businessman sees global opportunity for Nigeria’s cassava

Interview with Tony Bello
FOUNDER, SHINE BRIDGE GLOBAL

Lives in: United States

Nigerian-born Tony Bello, a food scientist by training, played a key role in developing the low-fat Baked Lay’s and Lay’s Stax potato crisps during his time at US snack giant Frito-Lay. He now wants to apply that experience to products made from Nigerian-grown cassava, with ambitions to take them to both international and African markets.

How we made it in Africa editor-in-chief Jaco Maritz spoke to Bello about the potential he sees for cassava as a global food ingredient.

Topics discussed during the interview include:

• Why he is bullish on cassava
• The potential to replace potato with cassava in food ingredients
• Plans to launch cassava-based noodles in Nigeria
• Lessons from developing Lay’s potato chip brands in the US

Watch the full interview below: (only available on howwemadeitinafrica.com)

Interview summary

Cassava, a root crop that resembles a large sweet potato, is one of the most widely grown agricultural commodities in Africa, with Nigeria the world’s top producer. The roots can be processed into various products, including cassava flour, starch, ethanol and glucose syrup. Naturally gluten-free and rich in resistant starch, cassava supports digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Tony Bello is the founder of Shine Bridge Global, a US-based company focused on cassava-based ingredients and foods. He believes there is strong potential for cassava to replace potato in a wide range of food applications, from snacks and pasta to gravies and desserts. “The health and wellness benefits far outweigh what we know about potatoes today,” he says.

“These big … [food] companies are looking for innovation opportunities and I think cassava just happens to be a perfect fit for the new innovation, especially as you think about the new consumer base. People may be just be tired of eating potatoes and wheat and corn. Cassava serves as a major opportunity.”

According to Bello, several food manufacturers have already gone through pilot testing of Shine Bridge Global’s cassava-based ingredients as replacements for modified starches. “So far so good. We should be seeing these products in the manufacturing sector, especially the US private label market, pretty soon,” he adds.

Shine Bridge Global is also developing a range of ready-to-eat cassava products, including instant noodles, crackers, and stackable chips. It is currently working with an Indonesian company to launch a cassava-based instant noodle brand in Nigeria.

To ensure a steady supply of raw material, the company has partnered with several cassava producers in Nigeria in preparation for full-scale production.

Shine Bridge Global founder Dr. Tony Bello’s contact information

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