The Made in Cameroon Innovation Award 2026 delivered its verdict this Tuesday, May 19, in Douala, at the Carrefour Market parking lot in Bonamoussadi.
At the end of this third edition organized by Carrefour Cameroon, three products stood out: Marah sesame oil, a smooth rum, and a range of anti-stretch mark care products. A new proof of the growing interest of consumers in locally made products.
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Launched on May 7, 2026, at the Playce hypermarket as part of the Made in Cameroon Fortnight, the operation continued in several commercial spaces before concluding on May 19 as a prelude to Unity Day (May 20). The award ceremony marked the highlight of the event.
This year, twelve products competed in three categories. After an initial selection made by Carrefour’s Purchasing teams, the chosen references were submitted to public voting via an online platform for two weeks.
In total, more than 11,000 visits were recorded on the form and 5,161 people actually voted, a level of participation considered representative by the brand.
In the Food category, Marah Sesame Oil produced by Bio-Top-Commodity SARL won with 83% of the votes. It outperformed Fatima Foods’ Potato & Koki Flours as well as Antonia Seasoning marketed by Société Lamana SARL. Behind this success is the story of Riter Metiayim, head of Bio-Top-Commodity. She explains that she had the idea for the product in 2018 after unsuccessfully searching for sesame oil intended for a person suffering from kidney stones. The name <<Marah>>, she specifies, means <<joy>> in Arabic.
The brand’s first industrial production dates back to 2021. Today, Marah products are distributed in Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, and Kribi. The company sources sesame seeds from cooperatives located in Noun, Centre, and North regions of the country. Its model also relies on a social dimension, notably integrating people with reduced mobility, women from crisis areas, and orphans. <<Buying a Marah product also means offering a smile to a young person or a woman>>, emphasizes the promoter.
Next, in the Beverages category, Gimbra Edena Smooth Rum from Saveurs de Vignes SARL received 69% of the votes. The company, initially specialized in wine importation, then turned to local production. Its general manager, Jean-Christin Tene, now believes that <<the brand can compete with some international references>>. He also attributes part of its notoriety to the Cameroonian series <<Scandalous Revelations>> by director Ebenezer Kepombia, which helped increase its visibility with the public. Doya Fruit Juices from SADEC and MUX Cocktail drinks from J D Distribution Services SARL occupy the second and third places respectively.
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Finally, in the Non-Food category, the Moby Maman Anti-Stretch Mark Range developed by Biopharma Laboratories won 86% of the votes. The product was designed to address difficulties encountered by some women after childbirth in regaining their figure. Madar Bleach from Nouramar SARL and the Bissa’a Soap Range from Bissa’a Cosmetics occupy the following places respectively.
The three winners left with a trophy as well as an envelope worth 150,000 FCFA. The other competing products received a certificate of participation.
For Christophe Boissinot, Purchasing Director at CFAO Consumer, this initiative highlights <<the richness, diversity, and especially the innovative capacity of Cameroonian producers>>, while allowing them to benefit from better visibility and new business opportunities.
Since its establishment in Cameroon in 2017, Carrefour claims to have gradually strengthened its collaboration with local producers. The brand indicates that it now references more than 15,000 products made in Cameroon, representing nearly 45% of its turnover in the local market. It also works with more than 300 Cameroonian suppliers, several of whom took part in a professional meeting organized on May 13, 2026, in Bonamoussadi. The fourth edition of the Made in Cameroon Innovation Award is already scheduled.
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