Matcon’s Material Processing Technologies Helps Combat Malnutrition in Africa

Sanku, a leader in the fight against malnutrition across Africa, focuses on enhancing the nutritional quality of staple foods in the region. By manufacturing affordable, quality pre-mix that is added by local small & medium-scale millers to their own flour, Sanku is helping to deliver critical nutrients to millions.  

Matcon – a unit of IDEX Material Processing Technologies (MPT) – collaborated with Sanku to design a manufacturing system that enables the safe and efficient formulation, blending, and packaging of fortified pre-mix.

In 2024, Sanku opened the Nutrient Premix Factory in Tanzania, with Matcon’s cutting-edge equipment as part of the production process. As the first facility of its kind in Eastern Africa, the factory produces high-quality, affordable premix not only for Tanzania but also for millers in Kenya and Ethiopia reaching 15.8 million people in 2024 with nutrient-rich flour. 

Many millers, especially small and medium enterprises, face challenges with fortification due either to the low-quality of the low-cost, premix mostly available in the market, that offers little health benefit. Or they face the challenge that high-quality premix is often too expensive and thus not purchased consistently. Sanku’s factory addresses these issues by making it easy for any miller to access affordable, high-quality premix whenever needed.

Sanku is serving 16 million people each day throughout Eastern Africa. The factory ensures premix is stocked locally, available in local currency, and accessible to millers. Since its launch, premix sales in the region have surged by over 200%, underscoring the factory’s transformative impact. 

Looking ahead, Sanku aims to replicate this success across other parts of Africa, expanding its reach and delivering life-changing nutritional solutions to millions more in need.