Sonoco Group, IFC agree on Guinea’s first integrated poultry project

GUINEA – Sonoco Group and the International Finance Corporation have formalised an agreement to develop what is described as Guinea’s first fully integrated poultry production facility, marking a new phase in the country’s agro-industrial development.

The project is expected to establish a complete poultry value chain within Guinea, covering breeding, hatchery operations, feed production, and processing facilities in the Kindia region.

According to the company’s details, the initiative aims to increase domestic poultry output, reduce reliance on imports, and create employment opportunities across multiple stages of production.

Sonoco Group, formally known as Société Nouvelle de Commerce S.A., is among Guinea’s largest privately owned industrial firms, with operations spanning agro-industry, beverages, logistics, construction, real estate, finance, and metallurgy.

Founded in 2004 by Mamadou Saliou Kégnéko Diallo, the company expanded from an earlier investment structure established in 1992 and is headquartered in Conakry, employing more than 1,000 workers across its subsidiaries.

Its key business units include Les Moulins d’Afrique, a wheat milling operation launched in 2012; AM Transit, a logistics services provider established in 1999; Global Investment and Construction, created in 2009; Métal Import; and Fermav, which focuses on poultry activities.

Over time, the group has diversified its portfolio through acquisitions and new product lines, including the purchase of Nestlé Guinée in 2018 and the introduction of a 100 % natural soft drink brand, Salam, in 2021.

The company has also pursued regional expansion, opening its first subsidiary in Sierra Leone in 2023 as part of efforts to extend its footprint beyond Guinea.

Financing and partnership background

The International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group, has been working with Sonoco Group since 2019, when it provided a US$25 million senior loan to support infrastructure and production upgrades.

That earlier financing was used to build grain storage facilities in Conakry, increase flour and bouillon cube output, and upgrade processing operations within the group’s agro-industrial segment.

In early 2026, the IFC approved additional funding for the poultry project, which is being developed as a greenfield investment designed to introduce large-scale, integrated poultry farming in the country.

Expanding local food production

The planned facility will produce poultry products for the domestic market, aiming to improve access to locally sourced animal protein and support Guinea’s food supply systems.

Company information indicates that the integrated model is expected to link raw material sourcing, feed production, and final processing within a single operational framework to streamline production.

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