The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Firm unveils Terra seasoning cubes

    TGI Distri Limited has launched its Terra Seasoning Cubes. The cubes which come in two variants; Beef and Chicken, were designed to meet the requirements of Nigerians, especially in terms of aroma and flavour. The Terra Seasoning Cubes is produced by West African Cubes (WACUB) Limited at its plant in Sagamu, Ogun State.

    Speaking at the launch,TGI Group Executive Director (Foods and Dist.) and the Managing Director of TGI Distri, Mr. Sunil Sawhney, said Terra seasoning cubes was a true cooking sensation that would allow everybody to enjoy great a taste.

    He said: “We are now releasing two variants; Beef and Chicken into the market. Both variants come in single cubes of 4gm. Terra Cubes have particularly been designed to meet the palate requirements of all Nigerians especially in terms of aroma and flavour. They are also designed to preserve the aroma of meals during and after cooking”.

    Sawhney said the responses from product testers and early adopters have been encouraging and was enthusiastic about the release of the seasoning revolution to the market.

    The Executive Director, Commercial of TGI Distri, Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu  explained that the Terra seasoning was  launched with two SKUs to address different pocket power; 50-cube pack and a 25-cube pack. “We are also launching with 5 free cubes in the 50-cube pack and 2 free cubes in the 25-cube pack as a consumer promo”

    On choice of the brand’s pay-off line “Locks the aroma in; Gets the taste out”, Onubogu said terra seasoning cube had been formulated and manufactured to preserve the aroma of meals during and after cooking.

    “We have ensured that our chicken and beef variance truly enhances the taste of Nigerian culinary so when you cook with terra cubes you love the aroma, the aroma is fantastic. I challenge everyone to try it, the aroma is unique and it ensures that your taste is enhanced” he said.

    He was positive about the acceptance of the brand in the market, having identified the needs of the consumers through consumer researches done and using a strategic marketing and sales initiatives.

  • Consumers praise new Chivita Ice Tea pack

    Along with its promise of refreshingly natural goodness, Chivita Ice Tea with a new attractive package design  is helping the brand to stand out in a the marketplace.

    The Chivita Ice Tea which is available in two variants of Lemon and Peach comes in different pack sizes of 1Litre, 500ml, 315ml and 150ml.

    Its  new package design communicates its premium quality, health benefits and consumers’ benefits that have made the product visually appealing to consumers. The brand’s new positioning is under the Chivita’s Masterbrand.

     A cross-section of consumers who offered their perspective on the new look Chivita Ice Tea noted that they were excited by the brand’s new positioning.

    A Lagos based lawyer, Tomiwa Adeleke, said the rebrand of Chivita Ice Tea was an innovative strategy that connects with consumers because of the pack’s unique imageries which is visually attractive and differentiating from competing brands.

    “I drink Chivita  Ice Tea very often whenever the need for refreshment arises. For me, its great taste and unique blend of natural tea leaves and real fruits, as well as health benefits, make it a preferred choice for rejuvenation and refreshment. The brighter and bolder rebranded product  pack was a pleasant surprise to me and is triggering positive product enquiries from my friends who are excited about its renewed appeal,” he said.

    Agatha Eromosele, a mother of four, who works as a nurse at the Lagos General Hospital stated that the new look Chivita Ice Tea was a welcome development.

    “There is no ambiguity as the new design means the product announces itself from afar on the shelf. Its refreshing benefits are well captured by the persuasive imageries and content on the new product pack” she said.

    Commenting on the product rebranding and the positive feedback from consumers, Marketing Director of Chi Limited Mr. Probal Bhattacharya said it was pleasing to see consumers resonate with the product’s fresh visual identity, which keys it into the Chivita Masterbrand and the new design also reinforces its promise of rejuvenation through more appealing elements that evoke its refreshingly natural goodness.

    “The objective for rebranding Chivita Ice Tea was to communicate the brand’s core value of rejuvenation and natural refreshment with strategic imageries that are attractive and differentiating. We are excited about the response so far and look forward to growing consumer franchise and affinity with the new pack,” he said.

     

  • Firm launches products

    Office automation and document management solutions provider, Brother International, has upgraded its products range from the business machines to the document scanners as part of the brand’s regional growth strategy.

    The products were launched in conjunction with the firm’s partner and authorised representative in Nigeria, Skysat Technologies, during a dealer conference and training on the new digital printers, held in Lagos.

    Assistant Manager, Planning Division, Brother International, Virginia Jonathan said the products would help their customers including home-based and medium to large-sized businesses to  increase productivity, improve work-flow,  enhance organisational efficiency and   reduce costs.

    According to her, the firm is working to address the demand in market by delivering and offering high quality products from Laser and Inkjet printers/MFP, high speed document scanners to innovative labeling printers.

    She noted that with the partnership with Skysat Technologies, Brother International is billed to provide excellent sales and after sales technical support services for its products in Nigeria.

    “From the business machines, Brother’s latest Ink refill tank system series delivers enhanced print quality, paper handling capabilities and page yields for SMBs and SOHOs. Specifically targeted for high print volume home offices and small workgroups. The new products have been designed to cater to the ever-changing needs of the consumer who is always looking for quality and cost-effective document management solutions.’’

    She added: “They are developed for the heavy-duty scanning demands of the SMB market; all offer full network functionality, which allows the machine to work harder for multiple users on various devices, without the need for a link to a central PC.”

    MD, Skysat Technologies, Izzat Debs, said the launch was to recognise the firms existing leaders and to thank them for their patronage.

    He said the products launched are exciting, special and would do wonders in the market.

    “We have noticed that Nigerians don’t want to have a monopoly of brands but they are looking for other brands too to be available but with the capabilities and features these products have, we will complement what the customers are looking for,” he said.

  • International Breweries thumbs-up distribution partners

    International Breweries PLC, member of AB InBev,  has hosted its distribution partners across the country to a gala night at the Lagos  Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    . The distributors were commended for their excellent performances in the recent financial year, winning delectable prizes.

    It was also an opportunity for the company’s distributors, trade partners and other key stakeholders within the distribution value chain to exchange ideas, as well as deepen business relationships.

    In her remarks, International Breweries Managing Director Mrs. Annabelle Degroot was full of praise for the company’s distributors. “We want to spend this evening celebrating and thanking our special partners in our business, our distributors. The successes we recorded in 2018 would not have been possible without your hard work and commitment,” she said.

    She urged them not to relent in their work, adding that as a very ambitious organisation keen on meeting the needs of consumers across the country, neither the International Breweries PLC organisation nor its trade and distribution partners would rest on their oars. “We are looking forward to a 2019 that will be even more impactful than 2018,” she added.

    She assured the distribution partners that in the best traditions of ABInBev, International Breweries PLC would continue to engage them closely and render support to their businesses, reminding them about the company’s commitment to its communities and sustainability in general.

    Speaking on the role and the relationship that exists between the company and its valued distributors, National Sales Director, Godwin Oche, said the distributor-partners play a very critical role in the supply chain and was appreciative of the synergy that exists between the company and its distributors.

    He added that overseeing the movements of products from factories to the points of sale and managing all attendant risks, the distributors have been able to bring real value to consumers which have helped to enhance the reach and ensure year-round availability of the leading product brands across the country.

    Speaking further, Mrs. Degroot assured the distribution partners that in the best traditions of ABInBev, International Breweries would continue to engage them closely and render support to their businesses.

     

     

  • Chain Reactions gets SABRE certificate of excellence

    SABRE Awards, the world’s largest public relations awards competition programme, which recognises superior achievement in branding and reputation, has awarded Chain Reactions a Certificate of Excellence in the SABRE Awards Africa in the Technology Category for its excellent work on Facebook.

    The company, founded 11 years ago, started working on the Facebook account in the last quarter of last year and has managed its media and events in Nigeria and West Africa.

    Chain Reactions Nigeria also won the Silver Award in the Public Relations and Reputation Management Category at the Pitcher Awards held in Lagos for its brilliant issue and reputation management work for the new Polaris Bank.

    Speaking on these awards, the firm’s Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, expressed happiness for yet the recognition of the firm’s creativity.

    “These awards will motivate us further to continue to offer more innovative solutions and creativity in solving problems for our clients. The awards boost our commitment to delivering outstanding work in Nigeria’s PR and integrated marketing communications ecosystem”, he said.

    Also, Multiple awards-winning Chain Reactions Nigeria was named the ‘Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa’ at the seventh edition of the Nigeria Brand Awards 2017 organised by International Brand Award Nominees while the Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, emerged the ‘PR Practitioner of the Year’ at the last year’s edition of the Lagos PR Industry Gala Awards (LaPRIGA) organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State Chapter.

     

     

  • LCCI chief makes case for locally made goods

    Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Muda Yusuf, has called on all Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) to be a formidable force that would drive an effective procurement policy of the Federal Government that would promote locally made goods.

    This is coming following complaints from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to have their products on the shelves of larger shopping malls in the country. The operators in the SMEs category relieved their various challenges at the just-concluded Third Trade Fair held by the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Lagos chapter, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

    Yusuf said though there had been various policies on promoting local contents, the bane of these policies remains that of implementation and compliance.

    Delivering his lecture  with the theme: Expanding the frontiers of MSME through market access,  Yussuf urged the operators to be resolute in achieving a just cause.

    “We have many investors coming into the country. In other climes, these investors are given serious conditions as to how to work with the local people. We are not saying we do not want foreign investors but it has to be a win-win situation.  It should be part of government policy to engage all the supermarket chains we have in the country to ensure a certain proportion of what should be displayed on their shelves should be Nigeria-made products,” he observed, adding that there was the need to pressurise the government to ensure that there is compliance with the policy.

    For a hitch-free productivity, the LCCI boss advised that government should provide protective tarrifs that would encourage more production of locally made goods, as well as have an enabling tax-friendly environment. Besides, he restated the need for SMEs operators to join forces if they are to achieve their objectives, bringing to the fore the significant role of SMEs to the economy. These he noted to include wealth creation and poverty reduction, promoting innovation and technological development, income distribution, economy inclusion and others. He, therefore, charged the operators to take advantage of the country’s population and the huge market it offers.

    On his part, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode   reassured the exhibitors of his commitment towards improving SMEs in the state.

    Represented by the  Commissioner of Commerce, Industries and Co-operatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, the governor commended the programme, saying it has been complementing the effort of the state government towards improving small businesses.

    Also, the Chairman of the NASSI Lagos chapter, Mr Segun Kuti-George noted the goal of the  fair to be a focus on the opportunities created by the current economic realities of the need to diversify the nation’s economy to promote made in Nigeria goods.

    Over 5,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors participated in the fair.

  • Reward galore for Finecoat’s loyal customers

    It was reward galore for distributors of products by Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited, manufacturer of Finecoat and Shield paints, when the company feted them during its 2019 Customers Forum held in Lagos, recently.

    The Group Managing Director, Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited, Mr Aderemi Awode, said the firm was aware of how hard it was to sell paint and was determined to keep up its 23-year old tradition of saying ‘thank you’ to those who made its products reach the nook and cranny of the country.

    “We have this every year and this year makes it the 23rd year that we are having this.  It is not easy selling paint. Paint is not something that we consume so we realise that our customers put in extra efforts to ensure that they push our products to the end users.  So, we felt it would be nice to have a forum to appreciate and celebrate our customers,” he said.

    To this end, all distributors of the various categories of products sold by the firm – including the home décor wallpapers as well as chemicals sold by its subsidiary firm, CPIN, and the paints, smiled home with various home appliances – which increased according to their level of sales.

    The best performers went home with brand new cars. Three best customers/distributors in the Finecoat and Shield paints category were presented with Honda Pilot SUV and a 4×4 Runner Toyota SUV; and under CPIN, five distributors/customers went home with two Toyota Camry cars, two Honda Pilot SUV and a 4×4 Runner Toyota SUV.

    The winners of the cars included: the Most Outstanding Distributor, Mr James Chinedu Egwu of CJ Jammy King Nigeria Limited, Abuja; the first runner up, Mr. Chidi Ejiofor; and the second runner up, Mr Chima.

    Many others got a whole lot of electronics enough for each to set up a home or open their own stores if they wished.

    Some got 45’ LCD television sets along with two-door refridgerators, 2.5KVA generators, home theatre systems, microwave ovens, four burner gas cookers, and standing fans.

    Lower categories of winners got fewer electronics.  Nevertheless, the least gift consisted of a pressing iron, electric cooker and sandwich maker.

    Next year, when the firm clocks 25, Awode said the best performing customers would be travelling out of the country on holidays to such destinations like London, Paris, Singapore and Malaysia.

    “We are already in talks with our foreign partners.  You will not need to spend money on tickets and accommodation.  Five people will travel on holidays.  But the work starts today,” he said.

    Despite the bleak economic outlook, Awode said the firm had been able to maintain profit without increasing the prices of its pain products by sourcing more of its raw materials locally – with local content increasing to 50 per cent from 30 in the last two years.

    He attributed the success to the firm’s vibrant Research and Development unit.

    Awode praised the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and check corruption, urging it to do more in this regard.

     

  • Holliandia’s innovativeness excites consumers

    Consumers of Holliandia Youghurt have praised the brand for its taste, smooth texture and ability to be used as a taste mixer.

    A recent visit to several lounges and bars across Nigeria showed increasing use of yoghurt, either consumed directly or as a taste-enhancing mixer.

    The brand has become a mainstay for consumers who are increasingly embracing yoghurt and drink-mixing culture as their taste evolves.

    Since its launch in 2016, Hollandia Yoghurt has continued to thrill its consumers with its nourishing goodness and ability to be used as a mixture with variety of beverages.

    Its 315ml pack size, Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology is convenient and handy, with a specially designed prismatic shape and an attractive screw cap that enables re-use of the brand.

    A bar manager in Rivers State, Chijioke Silva, acknowledged the growing demand for Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology at his bar.

    He noted that from the onset of its launch on the shelf, the brand has established a strong connection with consumers because of its attractive packaging, great taste, smooth texture and able to be used as taste enhancer.

    Similarly, Dele Yusuf, who was introduced to Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology by his friends during a hangout at Ikoyi, said: “Since then, I have fallen in love with it. Now, whenever I hang out at the lounge with my friends, I simply mix my malt drink with a pack of Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology to achieve my desired taste. For me, nothing can be better than this.”

    Speaking on the success of the Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology, the Managing Director, Chi Limited, Mr Deepanjan Roy, said the company was inspired by the desire to satisfy consumer expectation by churning out value adding and innovative dairy products like Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology.

    “We are excited about the great value and level of satisfaction consumers have expressed in their feedback on this product. We believe that as the positive word on the brand spreads, more consumers would be encouraged to try their favourite beverage mixes with Hollandia Yoghurt Mixology to derive their preferred taste,” he said.

    The brand’s 315ml pack is now sold at bars and lounges, roadside kiosks, bukas, Chi retail shoppe, departmental stores and neighbourhood shops across Nigeria.

     

  • Easter celebration: Traders lament low patronage

    Barely a week to the Easter celebration, traders at various markets across the country have raised the alarm over low patronage, attributing the situation to cash crunch and low purchasing power of consumers.

    Checks by The Nation Shopping show that sales of goods at various markets remained sluggish, as prices of some staple food items such as rice and semovita have gone up.

    For instance, at the popular Daleko Rice Market in Lagos, the price of local rice has  increased from N12, 500 to N14, 500. Half bag of rice is sold at N7, 300.

    A 10kg of Mama Gold and Golden Penny Semovita sold for N3, 000 as against the original price of N2, 600. The 5kg of same products is sold for N1, 500 each. 5kg of wheat is sold for N1, 300.

    A rice dealer at the market, who declined to have her name in print, said for some time local rice has been minimally available in the market and the increase was evident of the low production of local rice in the country.

    “We bought at the rate of N14, 000. It is a known fact that there is not enough production of rice in the country, hence the reason for the increase.  But the company that supplies us will not tell us that. The local rice is not cheap and there is no money for people to buy,” she said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo to meet Aba traders today

    With significant decrease in prices of beans and rice, traders at Iddo Market also expressed displeasure over poor sales, noting that the unstable price of these staple food items negatively affects their sales.

    “If we buy at a given price today, within few days, the price of that same product will reduce. We cannot but sell at the current reduced price. So in the end, it is a loss for us, said Ekezie, a beans seller.

    At the market, the price of 50kg of beans ranges from N16, 000-32,000, depending on the type of beans, as against N30, 000-N55, 000, which it sold last year.

    A beans dealer, Uche Okoji, explained that the agricultural product is being cultivated bymore farmers, which has invariably reduced the price of beans, yet buyers do not have the money to make purchase.

    Also, varieties of dry fish and stock fish are sold at normal prices. For instance, dry fish is sold for N25, 000-N70, 000 per carton, while a 5kg of stockfish is sold for N5, 000.

    It was the same situation for traders at Ijora Olapa Frozen Food Market and their counterpart at Balogun market who sell wears.

    A 40kg basket of tomatoes at Mile N12 Market ranges from N1, 800- N5, 000, depending on the grade. Chili pepper, red pepper and Tartashe are sold for between N5, 000-N12, 000.

    Similarly, a bag of onions goes for N10, 000, as against N30, 000 last year. A gallon of groundnut oil is sold for between N10, 000-N10, 300. Palm oil goes for between N8, 500-N9, 000.

    At various retail markets, goods were sold at relatively cheap prices, even though retailers expressed uncertainty over price increase before the Easter day.

    However, to encourage more shopping during the festive period, Shoprite, Spar, Jumia,  Startimes digital Tv and other online markets have introduced Easter discount packages for their consumers.

     

  • Coffee shop launch in Lagos

    To expand its services in West Africa and Europe, Bourbon House Café, a leading coffee shop and eatery in Accra, Ghana, has launched a new shop in Victoria Island, Lagos. The shop offers coffee, wine, various dishes and cakes at affordable prices.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. Ade Adebajo, said the launch was to expand its scope in Nigeria as well as take advantage of the country’s revamping economy.

    He explained that about five branches of the Bourbon House Café would also be launched in different parts of Nigeria this to meet up with the demands of its numerous customers.

    Adebajo, a coffee lover, was hopeful that the brand would become a household name in Africa having succeeded in Ghana.

    “We are here to celebrate the launching of Bourbon House Café in Lagos, Nigeria. We have Bourbon House Café in Accra, Ghana.

    “In fact, we have three branches of Bourbon House Café in Accra, Ghana; so we felt it is time we start building the brand also in Lagos because this is the brand that we want to go all over Africa and worldwide.

    “This is the first branch in Nigeria and it is located here at Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island Lagos,” he said.

    Adebanjo said the brand blends both continental and a bit of traditional, which gives it an edge over other food restaurants around the area.  ”Bourbon House Cafe prides itself as an exclusive coffee shop and eatery.

     

    We brew the best coffee in Ghana and offer a wide variety of drinks and sumptuous meals” he added.