Sales of snacks is one of the easiest businesses that anyone can kick-start in Nigeria. The business has been around for a long time however one thing that holds people back from starting it is not knowing the type to start or even how to start it.
The high demand for snacks has made the business very profitable. Also, it is a daily income business, which means as a snack seller in Nigeria, you’ll be making money day in and day out.
Anybody can start a snack business in Nigeria regardless of gender, location, and capital. The business can be started by students, housewives, job seekers, and any passionate entrepreneurs.
If you’re looking to venture into the snacks business in Nigeria it is always welcoming. This post will be showing you exactly how to start a snacks business in Nigeria. Here you will discover different types of snacks business you can start, the starting cost, profitability, and how to run the business successfully in any part of the country.
So, if you’re ready to start, let’s go!
Starting a Snacks Business in Nigeria
The snacks business can be started in two ways in Nigeria. You can start either by buying and selling already packaged snacks like burgers, popcorn, etc. or producing and packaging your own snacks for sale such as small chops, puff puff, doughnuts, etc.
Regardless of how you start, the snacks business is easy to operate and doesn’t require a huge startup capital, unless you want to start a big snacks manufacturing company like Yale.
You can start the business anywhere, as not much is required in terms of capital to set it up. Once you have all the needed equipment such as a frying pan, show glass, and gas cooker, as well as ingredients, you’re good to get started.
To start a snacks business in Nigeria, you must decide on the type of snacks business you want to start as there are many. A lot of them are very lucrative, although their profitability may vary.
Related: Most Profitable Businesses to Start with Little Money in Nigeria
Is Snacks Business Profitable in Nigeria?
Of course, everybody likes snacks, and in Nigeria, there’s always a strong demand for all kinds of snacks. That makes the snacks business very profitable in the country.
Although location may determine how profitable a snacks business may be, the most money is made especially in the morning, as lots of people barely have time to prepare breakfast, so they buy snacks like puff puff, and/or other small chops to fill their belly.
You can make a lot of money selling any kind of snack you may think of, but keep in mind that their profitability may vary. This is because some snacks drive more sales, while others may have a huge profit margin, especially if the cost of production isn’t high.
Since the snacks business is a source of daily income, your profits would be calculated on a daily basis. On average, you can make up to N10,000 and more daily selling snacks in Nigeria. Although this depends on the type, location, and how big or small you start.
See Also: 33 Highly Profitable Business Ideas in Nigeria to Start Now
How Much Do You Need to Start a Snacks Business in Nigeria?
Even though the business is very easy to start, just like every other business, you need money to get it off the ground. The capital needed to start a snacks business depends on the type of snacks you want to sell. The average cost of starting a snacks business in Nigeria regardless of the type could range from N10,000 to N100,000.
Most Lucrative Snacks Business Ideas in Nigeria
1. Popcorn Production
The popcorn production business is one of the easy-to-start snacks businesses in Nigeria. It involves production, packaging, and selling popcorn.
This snacks business idea can be started with about any amount, as you can make popcorn the local way using just a pot. If you have more capital, you can buy a popcorn machine to start making and selling popcorn.
Popcorn business is very profitable, as the demand for the snack is always high. You can make up to 200% ROI per every kilo of maize used to make popcorn.
Learn More: How to Start a Profitable Popcorn Business in Nigeria
2. Peanut Production
Peanut, also known as peanut bugger, is another snack that sells fast in Nigeria. You can start a peanut production business anywhere in Nigeria and drive sales.
Students do get involved in this business, as peanut buggers sell well amongst students. To start a peanut production business in Nigeria, all you just need is to acquire the required skill in making peanut buggers, and you’re good to go.
The cost of starting this snacks business in Nigeria is not too high, as you can get started with less than N10,000. With a good marketing strategy, you could turn the business into a source of daily income in no time.
3. Frying Puff Puff
Puff puff is one of the most popular snack-like fast foods in Nigeria. You can also make a lot of money frying and selling puff puff in Nigeria, as it is a good source of daily income.
This snacks business idea can be started by anyone regardless of gender or location. All you need to get started is capital, and getting all the necessary equipment, and ingredients, then you’re good to go.
You don’t need any marketing skills whatsoever to make sales selling puff puff in Nigeria, as the demand is high, making it an evergreen snacks business idea in Nigeria.
4. Baking/Frying Chin Chin
Just like the puff puff business, the production and sales of chin chin is another evergreen snacks business idea in Nigeria. From toddlers to old people, everybody likes chin chin in Nigeria.
That makes the business very profitable, as it is one of the snacks businesses which more sales mean more profits. You can start this business with about any amount. All you just have to do is learn how to make chin chin, to get started.
Related: How to Start a Profitable Rubber Slippers Business in Nigeria
5. Making Doughnuts
While thinking about a snacks business to start, doughnut production as sales may not come to your mind, but it makes a lot of money just like the puff puff business.
You can start a doughnut business in Nigeria with less than 20,000 naira on a small scale. The demand for snacks is high in many parts of the country, especially on campuses.
If you are able to start a doughnut business in a student area such as inside a university, or polytechnic, there is no limit to the amount you can make. All you need to get started is to learn how to make a doughnut, then get the needed materials and equipment, and you’re good to go.
6. Frying Plantain Chips
Plantain chips are a very popular snack in Nigeria that sells well. There is more demand for plantain chips than supply, so the business moves fast.
Unlike other snacks business ideas that require expensive equipment, and/or lots of ingredients to start, you only need a constant supply of plantain and access to a pot or frying pan to get started producing and selling plantain chips in Nigeria.
7. Frying Potato Chips
Just like the plantain chips business, there’s more demand for potato chips than the supply in Nigeria. Also, the potato chips business can be classified as an untapped snacks business in Nigeria, as not many people know about it.
The potato chips business is very profitable and can be started easily from your kitchen. All you just need is a supply of raw potatoes, and other basic equipment to get started.
Since the business is not too popular, you can produce potato chips in large quantities and distribute them to retailers, and provision stores at wholesale prices. This will rapidly increase sales, and of course, profits.
8. Making Sausage Roll
While sausage rolls can usually be found in fast food restaurants in Nigeria, starting it as a snacks business would be a great idea, as it is quite untapped. Although the snack is relatively new in Nigeria, the demand for it is high.
It is very hard to find a sausage roll baker on street corners, unlike puff puff, and other snacks. So you can be one of the early birds to make the most out of the business while it is still untapped.
There’s a lot of money to be made selling sausage rolls, as they are costly. The business is also quite capital-intensive to start, as you’ll need more ingredients, and probably enroll in a sausage roll baking course to get started.
9. Egg Roll Business
Egg roll is another popular and fast-selling snack in Nigeria. Just like selling puff puff, you can start an egg roll business anywhere in Nigeria, and make money.
Although it costs a lot more in terms of baking than other kinds of snacks due to the many ingredients required such as eggs, the profit is also massive. You can make up to 100% ROI on a bag of flour, making and selling egg rolls in Nigeria.
10. Baking/Frying Meat Pie
Making and selling meat pie is another lucrative snacks business idea in Nigeria. The business simply involves baking meat pie for sale.
You can start this business both on a small scale and a large scale and make a lot of money, as meat pies are always in demand in Nigeria. You just need to learn how to make meat pie to get started with the business.
Of course, you can enroll in an offline course to learn it. You can also learn how to make meat pie online to start the business.
11. Frying Coconut Chips
Also known as shuku shuku in some parts of the country, the coconut chips or coconut balls business is one of the most underestimated snacks business ideas in Nigeria.
However, there’s a lot of money to be made with the business if done the right way. Per coconut used to make chips, you can get up to 300% ROI. To start this business, all you need is just to learn how to make the chips.
In selling coconut chips in Nigeria, marketing really matters. To quickly drive sales, you can brand your business by making custom packaging material for your products. This will not just help drive sales, but also help create awareness.
12. Frying Cassava Chips
Making and selling cassava chips is one of the most profitable untapped snacks business ideas in Nigeria. Although not many people know about it, the demand is very high if you can package and sell it.
Since the snack is not too popular in Nigeria, the competition is low, so you can be one of the early birds to make cool money making, packaging, and selling cassava chips in your area.
The business is very easy to start, as you can either start on a small scale doing the production, and package manually by yourself, or start on a large scale by setting up a cassava chips brand/company if you have enough startup capital.
All you need to get started is to learn how to make the snack, which you do online through YouTube videos or reading blog posts. After that, get everything required and get started.
13. Small Chops Business
This business is very lucrative, as small chops are becoming a popular snack and fast food in events such as weddings, naming ceremonies, get together, and birthday parties. Despite the popularity, you do not need to wait for big parties for business opportunities, as you can start small from friends and family events.
The small chops business is an ideal one for students, as the demand is usually high for birthdays, which students celebrate the most. Driving sales is easy with this business, as you can work with event planners to recommend you to their clients. Just make sure that your small chops are nice and tasty so you have your customers for life.
14. Fried Yam, Plantain, and Potato Business
Although considered more of a lunch than snacks, the fried yam, potato, and plantain business is very profitable and easy to start in Nigeria. The demand for those fast foods is strong in every part of the country.
You can start this business and make a lot of money. All you need to get started is access to raw yam, potato, and/or plantain, then get all the needed frying equipment, and you’re good to go. Just like the puff puff business, you don’t even need to advertise your fried yam business to start driving sales.
Read Also: How to Start a Foodstuff Business with Little Money in Nigeria
15. Akara Business
Just like fried yams, akara is considered a fast food rather than a snack, as most Nigerians eat with a combination of pap or bread for breakfast. Akara is very popular in Nigeria. I bet nobody doesn’t know what it is.
The demand for the snacks is high, thereby making sellers a lot of money. You can start this business anywhere in the country regardless of your gender.
The akara business is not too capital-intensive to start. All you need is beans, ingredients, and the frying equipment to get started frying and selling akara in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Starting a snacks business is very profitable in Nigeria, as there’s high demand for all kinds of snacks. If you’re wondering what type to start and make the most money, I believe the post has served you the appropriate answers.
Note: You can’t just start any of the snacks business listed above blindly, so make sure you do your research offline before getting started, so as to attain the peak of success in the business.
Cheers!
