From Nylon to Niche: The Rise of Nigeria’s Modern Snackpreneurs

There was a time when chin chin came in transparent nylons, tied at the top with a knot that doubled as a handle. Plantain chips were sold from wheelbarrows, and kilishi was a road trip essential, wrapped in newspaper and spiced to the heavens. These snacks weren’t just food, they were memory, movement, and mood.

But something’s shifted. In the last few years, a wave of Nigerian entrepreneurs, both at home and in the diaspora have taken these beloved street staples and given them a facelift. The result? A new generation of snack brands that feel both familiar and fresh, local and luxe. With elevated branding, curated flavors, and sleek packaging, Nigerian snacks are no longer just roadside treats; they’re going global.

 

The New Face of Chin Chin

 

• Ajoje Snacks – Resealable, vibrantly designed packs in cinnamon and sweet-spicy flavors. 
• Tabitha’s Chin Chin by Beautiful Foods Ltd – Freshly made in the UK, with a nostalgic crunch. 
• Gratia Chin Chin – Small-batch chin chin with gourmet presentation, creamier than conventional taste and premium packaging. 
• Granny Rosy’s Chin Chin – A Nigeria brand selling their grandmother’s nostalgic, home style chin chin recipe with flavors like vanilla and cinnamon to Nigerians and the world. 

Plantain Chips, But Make It Gourmet

• Iberia – Health-forward, naturally sweet chips in clean, modern packs. 
• Olu Olu Foods – A made in Nigeria brand offering crunchy plantain chips in salted, chili, and sweet flavors. 
• GreenCo Plantain Chips – Ethically sourced chips with a crisp bite, found across stores in Nigeria 

Puff Puff, Reimagined

• Puff Puff Ministry – Operating in the U.K., this brand brings fresh puff puff to pop-ups, farmers’ markets, and curated boxes. 
• The Puff Shack – Known for stuffing puff puff with fillings like Nutella or toppings like lotus biscoff cream, cinnamon sugar, etc.

Kilishi: The OG Jerky Goes Global

• O & B Kilishi – Offering clean, well-packaged kilishi with customizable spice levels. 
• Twelve Spices Kilishi – Handcrafted kilishi in signature spice blends, exported globally. 

Kuli Kuli: The Protein-Packed Peanut Snack, Reinvented

 

• Abby’s Crunchy Kuli Kuli – A Nigerian brand giving the traditional snack a bold, crunchy comeback in resealable pouches and spiced varieties. 
• Sheelda – A spicy, high-quality kuli kuli option marketed for both local and global peanut lovers.
   

 

Kokoro: Corn Meets Crunch

 

• Grandma Kokoro Brand – Keeping tradition alive with an artisanal, small-batch approach to this crunchy corn stick, updated for shelf appeal. 
• Danflow Foods – Known for pairing kokoro with other nostalgic snacks in export-friendly, branded boxes. 

Coconut Candy: Sweet, Sticky Nostalgia

• TAS Coconut Candy Balls – UK based bite-sized balls of caramelized coconut, beautifully packaged for gifting and delightful consumption. 
• Danflow Foods Coconut Candy – Offers traditional coconut candy in resealable pouches and fun-sized jars, merging old-school sweetness with clean aesthetics. 

This isn’t just about snacks, it’s about culture, branding, and global identity as well. By refining what was once local and handmade, these brands are taking the warmth and flavor of Nigerian street snacks to the world stage. Whether it’s on a shelf in London or in a curated box in Brooklyn or in your neighbourhood supermarket here in Ngeria, these snacks are telling a story: of heritage, hustle, and how even the most familiar things can be reimagined.

 

The evolution of Nigerian snacks from nylon bags to niche boutiques is more than a rebrand, it’s a cultural renaissance. In the hands of this new generation of snackpreneurs, every bite is a celebration of home, wherever in the world it’s tasted.