picture of a family contributing to Dolima products

Senegal: La Laiterie du Berger

Yoghurt, milk, and curd cheese
from local production

CONTEXT AND CHALLENGES

The eating habits of the urban population are changing

In Senegal, the demand for fresh dairy products is growing. In 2020, consumers spent around 140 million euros on these products – an increase of 50 million euros since 2011. According to estimates, sales will grow to around 220 million euros in 2030. The main contributor to this increase is the constantly growing demand for industrially produced and packaged dairy products. This development is driven by the growing urban population and a new middle class that values standardised and hygienic food.

Since 2006, the Senegalese company La Laiterie du Berger (LDB) has been producing and marketing dairy products to satisfy the demands of this growing market, especially in the greater Dakar area. They are sold under the brand name Dolima. With a wide range of products including yoghurt, fresh milk, curd cheese and more, LDB is one of the main suppliers of dairy products in Senegal. The raw milk comes from pastoralists in the northern border region with Mauritania, where the company's main production facility is located. To ensure the quality of the purchased milk, the livestock owners receive veterinary and technical support from LDB.

women carrying milk
© Dolima

PROJECT APPROACH AND PROJECT GOALS

The logistics centre in Sandiara is the centrepiece of the expansion strategy

In the coming years, LDB wants to build on its strong market position and expand its operations. As part of a project supported by Invest for Jobs, LDB will first enlarge the production capacities. In addition, distribution points with refrigerated storage facilities are to be built throughout the country to access new sales regions from there. The number of vehicles that are used to supply retailers will also grow.

The centrepiece of the growth strategy is the extension of the logistics centre in Sandiara, about 60 km south-east of Dakar. It is here that new storage capacities with access roads and loading ramps are being built. This will ensure that the additional production volume can be efficiently processed and delivered to the network of more than 18,000 shops. They are traditionally the most important customers and generate almost 90 percent of sales. Another building block of the marketing concept is the increased cooperation with large supermarket chains: they are an important distribution channel to reach the country's growing middle class.

Dolima-products
© Dolima

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

New jobs in the company, as well as with producers and buyers

Through the project, LDB will directly create about 470 new jobs in the areas of production, logistics and distribution. The wages will be above the Senegalese minimum wage. The increased demand for raw milk and the additional income of the retailers should also improve the income situation of numerous people along the supply chains. More than 200 milk producers in the north of the country will attend further training on livestock and dairy farming. This should also improve their living and working conditions. Beyond that the trainings will contribute to animal health and the long-term conservation of the herds.

From 2021 to 2023, La Laiterie du Berger plans to invest a total of 10.6 million euros as part of its expansion strategy. The Facility Investing for Employment grants a subsidy of 2.65 million euros (25%). The funds will be used to finance the enlargement of the logistics centre in Sandiara.

The Facility Investing for Employment (IFE) of KfW Development Bank is part of the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). With its support, the Facility wants to remove barriers that prevent the creation of new and better jobs in the private sector in the African partner countries.

Project details

Project status

Implementation

Project locations


Senegal Sandiara

Project objectives

Job creation independence from imports

Sector

Agri-Business

A project with

Companies

Partners

La Laiterie du Berger S.A.

Contact

We are looking forward to hearing from you

Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition" – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to work together with companies to create up to 100,000 good jobs and to improve working conditions and social protection in its African partner countries.

Partner countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.

Find out more about our services for companies, universities, chambers and associations: https://invest-for-jobs.com/en/offers

at least 300 characters
at least 300 characters
at least 300 characters
at least 300 characters
at least 300 characters
Drag and drop files here or click to upload

    Please check that your enquiry does not match any of the other drop-down options. If so, please click on this option and enter all the required information. Please note that we can only process enquiries that contain all the necessary information.

    Please refer to the Data Protection Statement for information about your rights and options for withdrawing your consent.

    Press contact

    Phone: +49 30 / 18 535-28 70 oder -24 51

    Fax: +49 30 / 18 535-25 95

    E-Mail: presse@bmz.bund.de

    Please understand that the Press Office only answers questions from journalists.