Ethiopian eyes domestic sourcing for in-flight catering service

Addis Ababa, January 31, 2017 (FBC) – Africa’s largest Airline Group, the Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian), said it is eyeing to substitute the products which it imports for its in-flight catering service with local ones.

Today, the airlines discussed on the plan with Food and Pharmaceuticals Development Institute, Meat and Dairy Development Institute and other stakeholders.

Aklilu Habtu, Catering Manager at the airlines said Ethiopian imports 90 percent of meat, milk, honey and other products for its in-flight catering service from abroad. Local products account only 10 percent.

According to him, Ethiopia’s flag carrier spends over 100 million US dollars annually to import these products.

In order to reduce its spending, Africa’s largest Airline Group is contemplating to source 80 percent of the products from local suppliers.

He said it (the airlines) is providing capacity building training for producers to help them supply quality and quantity products sustainably.

Despite rich in meat, dairy and other resources, Ethiopia lacks a lot in using them properly, said Dr Mebrhatu Meles, State Minister of Industry.

Due to lack of integration with local producers, the country is losing a significant amount of foreign currency, he noted.

In addition to saving foreign currency, Ethiopian’s move to substitute imports will enable farmers, pastoralists and other producers to benefit from their products, the state minister noted.