Rite Foods records 23% carbon intensity improvement, commits to cleaner energy

L-R: Mr Godfrey Ojo, Head, Internal Audit; Mrs Oluyemi Lawal-Daki, Head, Legal Services & Company Secretary; Mr Ekuma Eze, Head, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability; Dr. Eustace Onuegbu, President, Independent Network for Corporate Social Responsibility; and Dr Zainab Obaro, Strategic Senior Human Resource Business Partner, all of Rite Foods Limited, during the presentation of the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report at the corporate head office in Lagos.

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rite Foods Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading food and beverage companies, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable manufacturing and responsible business practices, reporting significant improvements in environmental performance, cleaner energy adoption and community development initiatives in its 2025 Sustainability Report.

The company disclosed that it achieved more than a five per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during the year under review, alongside a 23 per cent improvement in carbon intensity, 15 per cent increase in water-use efficiency and 27 per cent improvement in solid waste management.

The disclosures were made during the presentation of Rite Foods’ 2025 Sustainability Report in Lagos on Friday, July 24, 2026, where the company highlighted its continued efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance principles into its operations and long-term growth strategy.

Presenting the report, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Ekuma Eze, attributed the company’s sustainability milestones to sustained investments in cleaner production processes, efficient use of resources and operational excellence.

According to him, sustainability is no longer viewed merely as a corporate responsibility initiative but has become an integral component of the company’s business strategy and a key driver of long-term value creation.

He said Rite Foods had continued to strengthen its transition towards cleaner sources of energy, with natural gas accounting for more than 93 per cent of its energy mix, while the company is simultaneously expanding investments in renewable energy solutions.

Eze explained that the strategy was designed to reduce the company’s environmental footprint while improving operational resilience and ensuring that its manufacturing activities remain aligned with emerging global standards on responsible production.

He said, “Sustainability has become a defining pillar of Rite Foods’ growth strategy and a key driver of long-term value creation.

“Every milestone we have achieved reflects our resolve to operate responsibly, reduce our environmental footprint, create shared value for our stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
Beyond its environmental performance, the company said its sustainability efforts continued to generate significant socio-economic benefits across its operations and value chain.

Rite Foods disclosed that it currently sustains approximately 3,000 direct jobs while supporting more than 12,000 indirect jobs through its extensive value chain.

The company also reported that it invested more than ₦581.92 million in various community and social development initiatives during the period.

The investments covered areas including education, healthcare, youth empowerment, environmental initiatives and other community development programmes.

According to the company, the initiatives reflect its belief that sustainable business growth must extend beyond financial performance to include tangible improvements in the lives of employees, consumers, host communities and other stakeholders.

Eze stressed that Rite Foods would continue to pursue innovation, transparency and continuous improvement as the company expands its operations.

He noted that the company’s objective was to ensure that its growth creates lasting value for stakeholders while contributing to the development of the communities where it operates.

The sustainability report also demonstrated Rite Foods’ commitment to transparency and accountability, with the company voluntarily aligning its sustainability disclosures with internationally recognised reporting frameworks.

The 2025 Sustainability Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and incorporated elements of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.

The company said the approach was aimed at strengthening the credibility and transparency of its sustainability reporting while ensuring that its environmental, social and governance performance is measured against globally recognised principles.

Rite Foods maintained that responsible corporate leadership, transparency and accountability would remain critical to building a resilient and globally competitive Nigerian business.

The company’s sustainability agenda covers several aspects of its operations, including energy management, greenhouse gas reduction, water efficiency, waste management, community investment, employment generation and responsible manufacturing.

The improvement in water-use efficiency, according to the company, reflects its efforts to optimise resource consumption and promote more efficient production processes. Similarly, the improvement in solid waste management underscores its focus on reducing waste and improving environmental performance across its operations.

The company’s cleaner energy transition is also expected to remain a major component of its sustainability strategy as it seeks to expand the use of renewable energy and further reduce its reliance on higher-emission energy sources.

Rite Foods said its sustainability drive would remain anchored on innovation and the continuous adoption of modern technologies capable of improving production efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

As a proudly Nigerian company with global ambitions, Rite Foods said it remained determined to demonstrate that local manufacturing companies can combine commercial success with environmental responsibility and meaningful social impact.

The company’s award-winning portfolio includes 13 variants of Bigi Carbonated Soft Drink, Bigi Premium drinking water, Sosa Fruit Drink with five variants, Fearless Energy Drink, as well as Rite Spicy Beef, Bigi Beef and Bigi Flex Sausages.

According to the company, these products are manufactured using state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern technology, reflecting its continued investment in quality, innovation and efficient production.

Rite Foods said it would continue to strengthen its sustainability programmes and deepen collaboration with stakeholders in pursuit of shared value.

The company reiterated that its long-term ambition is to drive sustainable innovation, create meaningful economic and social value, protect the environment and set higher standards for responsible manufacturing in Nigeria.

With its latest sustainability performance, Rite Foods is positioning sustainability not only as an environmental imperative but as a central component of its strategy for resilient growth, stakeholder value creation and continued contribution to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.