BTA Admin From a family-run confectionery in Mali to a fast-growing regional FMCG player, Julien Achcar has built Afriwara Group into a cross-border empire producing sweets, chewing gum and biscuits across multiple African markets.
Achcar’s journey into business began early. Raised in a family deeply involved in manufacturing and trade, he grew up observing operations that spanned confectionery, pasta production, flour milling and bottling. Those early experiences laid the foundation for his eventual move into the fast-moving consumer goods sector.
After completing his studies in France, he returned to Mali in 2003 to join the family business. Under the mentorship of his uncle, Achcar worked in a candy factory where he learned the technical and commercial aspects of production—from product formulation to machinery investment and market positioning.
“This is where I learned the business,” he later recalled, pointing to those formative years as critical to understanding how to scale consumer products in African markets.
After five years, Achcar returned to France, taking up a role with logistics giant Bolloré. The position exposed him to supply chains across Africa, reinforcing his interest in building a business on the continent.
While still working in logistics, he co-founded Comptoir Export de Matières Premieres (CEMP) in 2007 alongside two university friends. The company manufactures and supplies a wide range of raw materials—including food additives, sweeteners, dairy products and industrial inputs—to clients in more than 60 countries.
Initially involved in an advisory capacity, Achcar joined CEMP full-time in 2010, at a point when the company had already established a strong footprint in African markets.
That same year, a key opportunity emerged. One of CEMP’s clients, SNCV, a candy and sweets manufacturer based in Côte d’Ivoire, was looking for a buyer as its ageing owner prepared to step away from the business.
Recognising the potential, Achcar moved quickly. He founded Afriwara Group and acquired a majority stake in SNCV—marking the beginning of what would become a regional confectionery and biscuit business.
From that initial acquisition, Afriwara expanded its product lines and geographic reach, building a presence across West Africa, including Ghana. The company now produces a variety of consumer goods tailored to local tastes, leveraging insights into distribution, pricing and consumer behaviour.
Achcar’s strategy has been rooted in combining manufacturing with strong supply chain control—an approach shaped by his experience in both production and logistics. By focusing on affordability and accessibility, Afriwara has positioned itself to compete in highly price-sensitive markets.
Today, the company’s growth reflects a broader trend in Africa’s FMCG sector, where regional players are scaling up to meet rising demand for locally produced consumer goods.
From learning recipes in a family factory to building a cross-border brand, Julien Achcar’s journey highlights how industry knowledge, timing and strategic acquisitions can transform a single opportunity into a regional business empire.
