WAFA Holding
Driven by a commitment to food security and economic growth, WAFA Holding is reshaping Mauritania’s food industry. In working with Bühler, the company has established a state-of-the-art food park and set new standards for local production, food safety, and food security, creating jobs for Mauritanians. It has been a transformative journey that addresses the increasing food demands of the nation.
Hanane Hamimach, June 2025
In 2009, Sidi Mohamed Ghadda, CEO of WAFA Holding, embarked on a project to revolutionize Mauritania’s food industry. Mauritania is a desert country with a great deal of pastoral land, but very little arable land. Its frequent droughts have led to a concerning food and nutritional security situation, according to the World Food Programme, and it has relied heavily on food imports.
Up to 2009, WAFA Holding, like many other local companies, imported products from abroad and managed local distribution. However, Sidi Mohamed Ghadda decided that WAFA Holding should instead produce all essential products locally – flour, semolina, pasta, couscous, and more. Founded the same year, WAFA Holding’s subsidiary Grand Moulins d’Afrique (GMA) became the cornerstone of the company’s ambition to ensure food security and foster economic growth.
The impact has been not just on the company itself, but also on the wider economy. As WAFA Holding stopped importing food products and transitioned to local production, Mauritanian markets that had previously predominantly stocked imported products instead began to offer primarily locally produced goods.
GMA focuses on the production of both soft and durum wheat, ensuring high-quality production from raw materials to finished products in order to address the increasing food demands of the nation. All of its plants are equipped with Bühler solutions, ranging from storage silos to the mill, the animal feed factory, and the pasta and couscous production facility. “WAFA Holding’s strategic alliance with Bühler has been pivotal in maintaining continuous productivity and quality,” says Faiz Marrakchi Brahim Ghadda, General Manager of GMA.
Today, GMA boasts a daily production capacity exceeding 730 tonnes. Coupled with an impressive storage capacity of over 100,000 tonnes, this allows for steady supply and quality control of cereals including soft wheat, durum wheat, maize, and barley. Effective storage solutions are key to quality control and food security. GMA ensures cereals are stored under optimal conditions to prevent spoilage, contamination, and other risks. These reserves also act as a strategic buffer against supply chain disruptions, enabling WAFA Holding to maintain the steady availability of essential food products during periods of uncertainty or increased demand. “Our storage capacity reinforces Mauritania’s food security, ensuring a continuous supply of essential cereals,” says Faiz Marrakchi Brahim Ghadda.
The food park also includes an animal feed production plant, which supports local livestock farming by providing high-quality feed that improves both productivity and the long-term viability of the sector. By promoting more efficient resource use and reducing dependence on imported feed, the plant contributes to a more sustainable livestock industry in Mauritania. The strategic location near the port of Nouakchott also lowers transportation costs and enables faster supply of raw materials.
SIPAM (Société de pâtes alimentaires), another entity within WAFA Holding, complements GMA by receiving high-quality wheat for pasta production. This seamless integration aligns with WAFA Holding’s aim of increasing local production. The company was established in 2021 and operates Bühler production lines for pasta, spaghetti, and couscous. Haymouda Ghadda, General Manager of SIPAM, says that the Bühler technologies used in their operations help them produce a significant impact on local production and the economy. “Equipped with Bühler’s advanced technologies, our production lines ensure top-notch quality and efficiency,” he explains. “This supports our mission of meeting national market needs.”
According to Ayoub Ben Massoud, Key Account Manager at Bühler Maghreb, the long-standing relationship with WAFA Holding is built on a shared commitment to delivering healthy food products to Mauritania and the region. “Our collaboration with WAFA Holding began over 15 years ago. Since then, we’ve supported them in reaching significant milestones in food production,” he says. “WAFA Holding has consistently invested in Bühler’s latest technologies to improve product quality, increase profitability, and reduce energy consumption.”
Bühler’s advanced solutions, such as the SORTEX optical sorter and the WINCOS automation system, significantly enhance production quality and efficiency. With SORTEX the company can precisely detect and remove impurities from cereals, ensuring that only the highest quality grains are processed. This results in consistent product quality that exceeds national standards. The WINCOS automation system provides comprehensive monitoring and control over the entire production process. By leveraging real-time data analytics, WINCOS optimizes machine performance, reduces downtime, and ensures efficient resource utilization.
WAFA Holding also relies on continuous support from Bühler through 24/7 services ensuring reliable production and addressing any operational issues promptly. “We have always been by WAFA Holding’s side, offering specialized support and ensuring uninterrupted production,” says Ben Massoud.
Bühler plays a supporting role in WAFA Holding’s operations, particularly through its maintenance and after-sales services, which help ensure reliable and efficient production. “Bühler’s support is vital to our success. Their continuous engagement allows us to use the latest technologies and adhere to national standards,” says Faiz Marrakchi Brahim Ghadda.
It has been a transformative journey for WAFA Holding, from distributing imported food products to establishing a fully integrated food park. But the impact is far wider. The social and economic benefits brought by WAFA Holding’s projects have not only transformed the local food production landscape but also provided more than 180 employment opportunities to Mauritanians, contributing positively to the local economy.
WAFA Holding is committed to not only providing jobs but also investing in the training and development of the local and national workforce. Many of their employees have been with the company for several years, benefiting from comprehensive training programs that equip them with the necessary skills to operate Bühler’s advanced technologies and maintain high standards in food production.
Today we have achieved national self-sufficiency. Looking ahead, we aim to further enhance local production and extend our positive impact to neighboring countries.
Sidi Mohamed Ghadda,
CEO of WAFA Holding
“By shifting from import dependency to local production, WAFA Holding has significantly impacted Mauritania’s food security and economic stability,” says Abdelkrim Alahiane, Bühler General Manager of Maghreb. “They focused not only on financial gain but also on social benefits and how they could positively impact Mauritania and neighboring countries. Now products the people need are available and locally manufactured.”
WAFA Holding’s commitment to making continuous improvements and driving innovation positions them as pioneers in Mauritania’s industrial landscape. Today, the company is poised to continue its growth trajectory. “Fifteen years ago, we only imported livestock feed, wheat, and flour. Today we have achieved national self-sufficiency,” explains Sidi Mohamed Ghadda. Looking ahead, we aim to further enhance local production and extend our positive impact to neighboring countries.”
Who: WAFA Holding
Where: Nouakchott, Mauritania
When: Founded in 1980.
What: WAFA Holding produces flour, semolina, pasta, couscous, and compound feed for animals.
Customers: WAFA Holding’s customers are in Mauritania and neighboring countries.
Bühler: WAFA Holding has storage silos for grains, soft and durum wheat mills, a feed mill, and a pasta and couscous factory, all equipped with Bühler solutions.
Gupfenstrasse 5
Uzwil
9240
Switzerland
