Brands/Products
Nigerian Breweries Tasks Distributors to Woo More Consumers
By Dipo Olowookere
Consumers of Nigerian Breweries Plc products have been assured of more exciting times as the brewing giant continue to push its sales upward.
This is as the brewing giant has charged its distributors and trade partners across the country to work harder in getting more people to consume products of the company.
Last Friday in Lagos, Nigeria Breweries, the pioneer and largest brewing company in the country, held an award ceremony for its distributors and trade partners who excelled in the course of their business partnerships with the firm in 2017.
Managing Director of the company, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel, in his address, lauded the partners for the long years of support and affirmed that Nigerian Breweries looks forward to a more rewarding relationship with them in the years ahead
He also thanked the distributors for the value added to the business last year, while also restating the commitment and sustained support of the company in the years ahead despite the continuing challenges.
“As partners for progress, we need you now more than ever before to win. The environment is more intense and the competitive landscape continues to change. This are challenging times in the market,” he noted.
He stated that the strategy to forge ahead and win is to shift focus to “our boss”, which is the consumer.
“In the years ahead, we will excites the consumers more and make them happy. We should work together to woo the consumers,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the firm’s Sales Director, Mr Uche Unigwe, explained that the theme of this year’s award, ‘Winning More Together,’ was conceived to recognize and reward the excellent performance of the company’s distributors and transporters for the year 2017.
He added that despite the challenges in the operating environment, the company did well and achieved many milestones that called for celebration.
Mr Unigwe described the partners as “super stars of Nigerian Breweries who constitute the important segment in the route to the market.”
While saluting them for their excellent contribution to the company’s success, he emphasized that the partners are the best in the industry.
The awards presented during the event included CFAO Award for non-alcohol Distributors; Growth Award and Isuzu Direct Depletion to Road Award. Others were Regional Key Transporters Award; Brand Champions; National Key Transporter; Regional Champions and National Champions.
In the high point of the event, last’s year winner, Ken Maduakor Group Limited from Nnewi in Onitsha Business Region clinched the National Champion Award as the company’s best distributor for 2017.
Ken Maduakor Group had also won the award in 2016, making this the third consecutive year it would be named best distributor.
Ifeoma Chukwuka Nigeria Limited, came second while Nathan Ofoma and Sons Limited, Nkpor, Anambra State clinched the third position.
Mr Kenneth Maduakor, Chairman of Ken Maduakor Group, thanked the company for the gesture and advised that the momentum be sustained to stay on top.
For their efforts, Maduakor got an Isuzu Truck, an award trophy and 10 Pallets; Ifeoma Chukwuka got an Isuzu NMR, an award trophy and six Pallets; while Ofoma got six pallets, an award trophy in addition to an Isuzu NMR.
In the Transporter of the Year category, Ancaps Global Investment Limited from Kaduna won the National Key Transporter Award and got a plaque, an award trophy and a Mitsubishi L200 double cabin 4×4 DC Van. Priwan Ventures Nigeria Limited from Enugu which won the raffle draw for the night got a Mitsubishi L200 van.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
