(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s Bonchair agricultural company, which produces juices and liqueurs from local ingredients, has reached a new stage in its industrial expansion. Founded by businessman Jean Christin Tene, the company has acquired 47 machines worth a total of CFA965 million, with support from Portuguese technical and financial partners. The equipment includes fermenters, distillers, water purification units, bottling and labeling machines, pneumatic presses, pasteurizers, and storage tanks.
With these investments, Bonchair plans to increase its production capacity fivefold, from 200,000 liters (2,000 hectoliters) currently to 1 million liters (10,000 hectoliters) by 2030. The company aims to meet rising international demand for its Gimbra-branded ginger liqueurs and pineapple juices. “For now, we meet local demand, but most requests come from abroad, particularly Canada, the United States, and Europe,” said Tene.
To sustain this growth, Bonchair plans to revive ginger and pineapple farming across Cameroon by diversifying its supply zones. “We are developing partnerships in Bafia and Makenene (Center region), as well as in the East and Adamaoua regions, specifically in Meïganga,” the founder noted.
Established in 2022 in Diwoum PK 33 near Douala, Bonchair embodies a commitment to promoting made-in-Cameroon products. Its founder aims to show that “quality products are already being made locally and can conquer international markets.”
Tene’s goal is to reduce wine and spirits imports by 10% within five years. According to the National Institute of Statistics, Cameroon imported about 11,206 tons of wines and liqueurs worth CFA22.3 billion in 2023, up 14.3% from 2022.
Beyond economic ambitions, the entrepreneur hopes to help improve the trade balance, create local value chains, and generate rural jobs. With a capital base of CFA595 million (excluding real estate) and a 15-hectare farm, Bonchair plans to double its 60-member workforce once the new facilities are operational. “We have requested additional land from the government to expand production and host more academic interns,” Tene added.
