Trade minister lauds surge of Made in Cameroon products in local supermarkets.

This was during the launch of an initiative dubbed The Made in Cameroon Fortnight. The initiative, driven by the CFAO Consumer Retail Group, aims to continuously promote and showcase the quality of Cameroonian products.

During the ceremony, Minister Mbarga Atangana toured the various aisles and stands of the Carrefour supermarket where the initiative was launched, expressing his satisfaction with the diversity and quality of the Cameroonian products on display. 

"I observe that, year after year, Made in Cameroon is advancing by leaps and bounds, and it's good that it's happening," he remarked.

The numbers presented by the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of CFAO Retail Cameroon, Philippe Marcillon, highlighted the significant integration of local products into the retail chain's offerings. 

"Made in Cameroon products represent 40% of the food assortment at Carrefour and 25% of the total offer," Marcillon stated. 

It was disclosed that out of the 15,000 items available in the store, over 3,500 are domestically produced. Even more impressively, the products generate 45% of food sales revenue and account for 75% of the volume sold in this category.

According to Minister Mbarga Atangana, the remarkable performance demonstrates both the growing consumer preference for local products and the ability of Cameroonian producers to meet the quality and consistency demands of large-scale retailers. He further emphasised the strategic necessity for the continuation of this growth for Made in Cameroon goods.

"The world is full of uncertainty, with the deregulation of supply chains and increasingly protectionist policies implemented by supplier states," Minister Mbarga Atangana noted. 

He added that: "It is important to have near-local autonomy to be shielded from these numerous international market crises. If you don't secure your supply, you put yourself at risk".

Minister Mbarga Atangana added that The Made in Cameroon Fortnight initiative led by CFAO Retail and local producers contributes to strengthening the country's economic resilience. 

"What our operators are doing, and what is being supported by large retailers, is helping to protect us," he affirmed. 

He also highlighted the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, for Cameroonian producers. 

"From our autonomy, we can move beyond our local ecosystem to invest in the various markets that present themselves to us. Our producers must have the vast African market in their sights," he noted.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3448 of Wednesday May 14, 2025