Top 7 Food Additives Driving Nigeria’s Food & Beverage Industry in 2025

Nigeria’s Food & Beverage (F&B) industry has been one of the most resilient and fast-growing sectors in the country. With a population of over 220 million people and a rapidly urbanizing middle class, the demand for safe food additives in processed foods, beverages, and packaged snacks is booming. Industry players like Nestlé Nigeria, Coca-Cola, Cadbury, Nigerian Breweries, Pladis, and Chi Limited continue to expand their operations, while local companies such as Rite Foods, Checkers, and Sweet Nutrition are rising to meet demand.

But behind every successful food and beverage product lies a range of critical raw materials and additives. These substances don’t just enhance flavor or sweetness — they improve shelf stability, product safety, visual appeal, and overall consumer satisfaction. Without reliable access to additives, manufacturers would struggle to maintain consistent quality, particularly in Nigeria’s hot, humid climate where preservation is vital.

In this article, we highlight the seven most important food additives shaping Nigeria’s F&B industry in 2025, why they matter, and how manufacturers can access verified suppliers through Matta.

1. Citric Acid (E330) – The Essential Acidulant

Citric acid is perhaps the most widely used food additive in Nigeria’s beverage industry. Known for its sharp, tangy flavor, citric acid enhances sweetness, balances taste, and acts as a preservative.

Applications: Widely used in carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, jams, candies, and syrups.
Functional role: pH control, flavor enhancement, antioxidant properties.
Market relevance: Nigeria’s soft drink market is one of the largest in Africa, and demand for citric acid will keep climbing in line with beverage consumption.

Source on Matta: Citric Acid Suppliers

2. Dextrose Monohydrate – Sweetness & Fermentation Aid

Dextrose is a naturally occurring sugar derived from starch. It is a key sweetener and fermentation substrate in Nigeria’s F&B sector.

Applications: Used in biscuits, bread, ice cream, chocolates, alcoholic drinks, and energy beverages.
Functional role: Provides sweetness, supports fermentation in bakery & brewery, improves texture in dairy and confectionery.
Market relevance: With Nigeria’s growing energy drink and snack industry, demand for dextrose is expected to grow by over 15% annually.

Source on Matta: Dextrose Monohydrate Suppliers

3. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – The Umami Enhancer

No seasoning cube or instant noodle in Nigeria is complete without MSG. Known for its umami taste, MSG intensifies flavor and is one of the most consumed additives in West Africa.

Applications: Used in seasoning cubes, instant noodles, soups, sauces, and snack foods.
Functional role: Flavor enhancement without adding salt or sugar.
Market relevance: With over ₦100 billion spent annually on seasoning cubes in Nigeria, MSG demand will remain consistently high. Companies like Nestlé (Maggi), Knorr, and Dangote Seasoning depend heavily on MSG imports and local blending.

🔗 Source on Matta: MSG Suppliers

4. Sodium Benzoate (E211) – Beverage Preservation

Sodium benzoate is a widely used preservative in acidic foods and drinks. It is particularly important in tropical countries like Nigeria, where heat accelerates spoilage.

Applications: Found in soft drinks, juices, syrups, sauces, jams, and carbonated beverages.
Functional role: Inhibits growth of yeast, mold, and bacteria in acidic environments.
Market relevance: Nigeria’s soft drink industry is worth over ₦900 billion annually (BusinessDay), and sodium benzoate plays a critical role in extending product shelf life.

🔗 Source on Matta: Sodium Benzoate Suppliers

5. Calcium Propionate (E282) – Bread Mold Inhibitor

Bread is one of Nigeria’s most consumed staple foods. However, the humid climate makes bread highly prone to mold growth. Calcium propionate prevents this, making it an essential preservative.

Applications: Used in bread, cakes, pastries, and other baked goods.
Functional role: Extends shelf life by preventing mold growth, especially in humid conditions.
Market relevance: Nigeria’s bread industry is estimated at ₦1 trillion annually (Punch NG), and demand for calcium propionate is rising alongside bread consumption.

🔗 Source on Matta: Calcium Propionate Suppliers

6. Liquid Glucose – Texture and Stability Improver

Liquid glucose, also known as glucose syrup, is used widely in confectionery and beverages for its functional benefits.

Applications: Key ingredient in candies, biscuits, ice cream, beverages, and baked goods.
Functional role: Prevents sugar crystallization, improves mouthfeel, enhances sweetness stability.
Market relevance: With companies like Cadbury, Pladis, and Sweet Nutrition expanding operations in Nigeria, demand for glucose syrup is expected to grow.

🔗 Source on Matta: Liquid Glucose Suppliers

7. Flavors – Crafting Consumer Experiences

Flavors are central to product differentiation. From cola soft drinks to malt beverages, biscuits, dairy products, and seasoning cubes, flavors create consumer loyalty.

Applications: Used in virtually all beverages, dairy products, confectionery, and processed foods.
Functional role: Enhance taste, mask bitterness, create unique sensory experiences.
Market relevance: As Nigerian consumers demand more variety, both natural and synthetic flavors are seeing strong growth.

🔗 Source on Matta: Flavor Suppliers

Quick Reference Table

Additive	Applications	Why Important
Citric Acid	Soft drinks, juices, jams	Flavor enhancer & preservative
Dextrose Monohydrate	Bakery, dairy, beverages	Sweetness & fermentation aid
MSG	Seasoning cubes, noodles, snacks	Flavor enhancement (umami)
Sodium Benzoate	Juices, soft drinks, sauces	Preservative (acidic foods)
Calcium Propionate	Bread, cakes, pastries	Mold inhibitor, shelf life extension
Liquid Glucose	Confectionery, biscuits, ice cream	Anti-crystallization, texture
Flavors	Beverages, seasoning, biscuits	Taste creation & product identity

The Future of Food Additives in Nigeria

The Nigerian F&B industry faces unique challenges: high consumer demand, import dependency for additives, fluctuating exchange rates, and growing pressure for local production and backward integration.

Trends to watch in 2025:

Shift to natural additives: Growing consumer awareness is increasing demand for natural flavors, natural colors, and clean-label preservatives.
Local manufacturing: Nigeria is exploring ways to reduce reliance on imports by encouraging local production of additives like starches and sweeteners.
Export opportunities: Nigerian-made products are reaching other African markets under the AfCFTA, increasing additive demand regionally.
Regulation compliance: NAFDAC and SON continue to enforce strict standards, making verified sourcing platforms like Matta essential.

Why Source Food Additives on Matta?

Matta provides a trusted B2B marketplace that connects F&B manufacturers with reliable suppliers of chemicals, raw materials, ingredients, and commodities.