Okin Biscuits has restarted production after 17 years, following the restoration of one of its manufacturing lines at its factory in Offa, Kwara State.
The company announced the development in a statement shared on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, describing the restart as an important step in its efforts to revive the once-popular Nigerian biscuit brand.
According to the company, biscuits were produced from the refurbished line during a technical trial on Tuesday. However, it clarified that the exercise was not yet aimed at testing the finished product, as more work is required to restore the taste and quality that consumers associated with Okin.
The company said the production line had remained inactive for 17 years after vandals reportedly removed essential components, including cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic equipment.
The statement read in part, “For the first time in 17 years, biscuits rolled off one of our rehabilitated production lines at the factory in Offa. We had to rebuild the line after having all cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic components stolen.
“This was a technical trial run, not a product trial. At this stage, we were not concerned about colour, appearance or achieving the final Okin recipe. The objective was simple: Can we bring this line, silent for 17 years, back to life? And we did.”
Another development in the revival effort came on Tuesday when the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company connected the factory to a 33KVA Band A electricity supply.
The company described the power connection as another significant step towards restoring operations at the facility.
It acknowledged, however, that the journey to full production is not yet complete, with additional testing, calibration and rehabilitation still required before Okin biscuits can return to the market.
“There is still work ahead. More testing. More calibration. More rehabilitation. And, of course, getting that familiar Okin taste and quality exactly right before the biscuits return to the market,” the statement added.
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The company assured consumers that efforts were underway to bring back the brand, which once enjoyed widespread popularity among Nigerians.
“But today, we celebrate progress. The machines are turning. The ovens are firing. The biscuits are beginning to roll out again. One step at a time. Okin is coming back,” the statement concluded.
Okin Biscuits was established in 1980 by the late Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye, a businessman from Offa. The brand became particularly popular among Nigerians who grew up during the 1980s and 1990s.
However, the company eventually encountered several challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity and increasing competition from cheaper imported biscuits, which contributed to the suspension of production.