Africa Manufacturing Awards to spotlight animal feed industry for the first time

AFRICA – FW Africa, a leading events organiser in the Middle East and Africa, has announced that the upcoming Africa Manufacturing Awards will, for the first time, recognise the animal feed industry, a sector worth more than US$22 billion in Africa and growing rapidly.

The awards will take place on December 11, 2025, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda, bringing together more than 2,000 industry leaders, investors, and executives from across the continent. 

The gala ceremony will celebrate change-makers in the food and beverage, packaging, pharmaceutical, and home and personal care manufacturing industries.

Held under the theme “Be Bold, Be Gold”, the event will honour innovation, leadership, sustainability, and resilience in industries driving Africa’s economic growth. 

Since its launch in 2017, the awards have recognised leading companies including Coca-Cola, Brookside Dairy, Olam Group, and Diageo, earning a reputation as the “Oscars” of Africa’s consumer goods manufacturing sector.

“This event is about celebrating resilience, inspiring the next generation, and highlighting the incredible transformation happening in Africa’s manufacturing sector,” said FW Africa CEO Francis Juma.

Feed industry earns long-awaited spotlight

For the first time, the 2025 edition will highlight the animal feed industry, underscoring its surging growth and critical role in Africa’s food security. 

The compound feed market is valued at US$22.85 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$28.22 billion by 2030, driven by rising meat consumption, industrialised livestock farming, and stronger consumer demand for quality products.

According to Alltech, feed production across Africa reached 57.7 million tonnes in 2024, the fastest year-on-year growth globally. 

Uganda, the host country, has seen significant new investment in aquafeed, including De Heus Uganda’s modern plant, further reflecting the sector’s momentum.

“Africa has seen a notable increase in the development and operation of modern animal feed plants in the recent past. For instance, De Heus Uganda recently commissioned a modern aquafeed plant, responding to the booming aquaculture industry in Uganda and the Eastern Africa region,” Mr Juma explained.

Similarly, Africa’s pet food market is also expanding rapidly, projected to grow from US$806 million in 2025 to US$1.20 billion by 2030 as more households embrace pet ownership and demand premium products.

“By recognising this industry at the awards, we are shining a light on a sector that underpins livestock and aquaculture across the continent.”

Organisers are inviting feed manufacturers to submit entries in categories such as New Product Innovation of the Year, New Plant of the Year, Company of the Year, and Persons of the Year.

Four pillars of recognition

The Africa Manufacturing Awards span four main categories, each with various sub-awards:

• Africa Food Awards, covering food, beverage, milling, and now animal feed.
• Africa Packaging Awards, showcasing advances in packaging technology and sustainability.
• Africa HPC (Home and Personal Care) Awards, celebrating consumer goods that improve daily life.
• Africa Pharma Awards, recognising excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare innovations.

Within these pillars, companies and individuals can compete for honours such as Product Innovation of the Year, Company of the Year, New Plant of the Year, and Persons of the Year.

Special recognitions include Non-profit Organisation of the Year and Industry Association of the Year.

“These categories are designed not only to celebrate innovation and operational excellence, but also to reward sustainability, community impact, and workforce development,” Juma said.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities

Alongside the awards, the organisers are offering opportunities for suppliers of new technologies, products, and services to showcase their solutions through sponsorships and exhibitions. 

Exhibitors will range from providers of ingredients, raw materials, and packaging solutions to manufacturers of equipment, testing services, and analytical instruments. 

The event also attracts service providers in finance, HR, logistics, supply chain management, project consultancy, training, and renewable energy, as well as companies offering utilities, waste, and water management solutions.

Due to limited space at the venue, only a small number of exhibition slots are available, and interested companies are encouraged to apply early. 

However, to safeguard fairness and transparency, the organisers discourage companies that have submitted nominations for any award category from sponsoring or exhibiting.

Setting the stage in Kampala

Uganda was selected as the host for its expanding manufacturing sector, particularly in food, beverage, and packaging. 

The 2025 edition will blend bold fashion, cultural showcases, and high-level networking with the awards presentations.

“The Africa Manufacturing Awards provide the perfect platform to celebrate and appreciate the growth and sophistication of the industry in Uganda, the Great Lakes region, and Africa at large,” the organisers emphasised.

Entries close on October 31, 2025, with eligibility for products launched from 2023 onwards.

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