Sanku marks one year in Ethiopia, reaches 4 million people with fortified meals
In twelve months, Sanku has deployed 133 Dosifiers, reached over 4 million people with fortified meals through 221 partner millers.
ETHIOPIA – Sanku has marked one year since beginning operations in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, highlighting rapid progress in tackling hidden hunger through flour fortification.
In a LinkedIn post, the organisation reported that in twelve months it has deployed 133 Dosifiers, reached over 4 million people with fortified meals through 221 partner millers, and broken ground on a nutrient premix factory at Kilinto Special Economic Zone.
The milestone, achieved with support from the Ethiopian government and development partners, underscores the growing role of private sector and NGO initiatives in strengthening the country’s food fortification capacity.
Ethiopia, home to more than 130 million people, faces high levels of micronutrient deficiencies, with iron, vitamin A, and zinc shortages among the leading contributors to child malnutrition. In recent years, the government has worked with development organisations and millers to expand fortification coverage, recognising its role as a cost-effective intervention to improve public health.
Sanku’s entry into the market complements these national efforts. The company’s IoT-enabled Dosifier technology allows small and medium-sized millers to add precise levels of vitamins and minerals to flour at low cost, a model that has seen success in Tanzania and Kenya.
A key development in Sanku’s Ethiopia programme is the construction of a premix factory at Kilinto Special Economic Zone in Addis Ababa.
Currently, Ethiopia relies heavily on imported premix, the micronutrient blend required for fortification, which makes fortification costly and supply chains vulnerable to disruptions.
Establishing a local factory is expected to reduce dependence on imports, lower costs for millers, and build a sustainable domestic supply chain. The Kilinto zone has been earmarked as a hub for pharmaceuticals and food industries, making it a strategic location for the facility.
Momentum in policy and partnerships
The anniversary comes as Ethiopia intensifies its focus on nutrition. In late 2024, the Millers for Nutrition initiative was launched in the country, providing training and technical assistance to millers.
Such programmes complement the government’s broader agenda of combating malnutrition through fortified foods and dietary diversification.
Sanku noted that its achievements were only possible through collaboration with the Ethiopian government, local partners, and its dedicated team.
According to the company, the new factory, once operational, would not only serve Ethiopia but could also position the country as a regional supplier of affordable nutrient premix.
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