By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The General Manager of Sonoco-Bread Avenue Academy, Mark Pritchard has disclosed that they are currently constructing a Flour Mill at Cline Town; an investment which he said is worth Fifty Million Dollars.
Pritchard disclosed to Journalists who were taken on a conducted of the the Bread Avenue Academy on 27th March this year, in which he noted that the flour mill will be completed at the end of this year. ”When the project is completed we will be able to provide up to 800 to 1,000 for Sierra Leoneans,” he added.
The idea behind the mill, according to Pritchard is not to only supply the local market in Sierra Leone but also to export to foreign countries. Apart from the construction of the mill, they are also building two other factories, one for pastry products and the other for tomato-based products. ”Both of these factories will be in operation in the first quarter of 2025,” he emphasized.
Flour, the manager noted is their main business. “We have the biggest flour mill in Guinea, and we have one of the biggest flour mills in Africa,” he added.
Speaking about the Bread Avenue Academy which has established a teaching and training skills department in baking, pastry, and entrepreneurship, he disclosed that they have provided skills to over 90 Sierra Leoneans.
“Our first intake of students is 90, and we divided them into three groups. The first group of 30 students comes for classes in the morning hours; the second group of 30 students in the afternoon hours, and the third group of 30 students in the evening,” he noted, adding that classes run from Mondays to Fridays, with three hours per class.
“Students will be awarded diploma certificates, and our certificate is internationally recognized,” the general manager said.
He went on to say their programmes are theory and practical-based. “The course is one-third theory and two-thirds practical,” Pritchard said, adding that the course will run for six months, having already operated for two months.
Speaking about the aim of Bread Avenue business, Pritchard said they are bent on providing high-quality food and beverages in the country, and as such they have been attracting customers. He further continued that they will be expanding outlets to the west and central parts of the city and the provinces.
The Sonaco Bread Avenue is a Guinean company that has expanded its operation to Mali, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, operating in multiple sectors, namely construction, and mining, among others, though flour production is their main business.
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