By Maphuti Mongatane
MEFSCO (Middle East Food Solutions Company), a joint venture between the American food corporation Cargill and the Saudi Arabian agricultural services company ARASCO, is playing a pivotal role in Africa’s growing food sector. By integrating expertise in food science and supply chain management, MEFSCO is empowering African food manufacturers to improve product quality, efficiency and sustainability.
To support its expansion into Africa, MEFSCO has appointed Adil Benjelloun as its new vice president. A Moroccan agribusiness expert with nearly 20 years’ experience, Benjelloun has built a distinguished career across Africa, the Middle East and Europe, specialising in food ingredients, agribusiness and market development. His leadership roles at Döhler and Blendhub in the Gulf region have equipped him with the expertise to lead MEFSCO’s expansion and foster strong partnerships with local food manufacturers and distributors.
MEFSCO has established itself as a leader in the starch and sweetener solutions industry, supplying high-quality ingredients such as glucose, fructose, maltose syrups, starches and corn-based products to key sectors to be used in beverages, dairy products, baked goods, confectionery and processed foods. As urbanisation and shifting consumer demand reshape Africa’s food industry, MEFSCO is set to deliver cost-effective, high-performance and nutritious ingredient solutions that align with local dietary habits and regulatory standards.
Beyond supplying ingredients, MEFSCO is committed to driving food innovation, and helping manufacturers meet evolving consumer demands in areas such as sugar reduction, high-protein and fibre-enriched products, clean-label formulations and food safety solutions. With extensive research and development capabilities, MEFSCO is helping manufacturers stay ahead of market trends while optimising supply chains and improving food security.
Sustainability remains a core pillar of MEFSCO’s operations, with efforts focused on sustainable sourcing, water and energy efficiency, and waste reduction. MEFSCO is working to improve traceability, encourage ethical sourcing and reduce its carbon footprint, thereby helping to build a more resilient and self-sufficient agribusiness ecosystem in Africa.
Under Adil Benjelloun’s leadership, MEFSCO is set to expand its impact in Africa by driving innovation, strengthening industry partnerships and advancing food production capabilities.
