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Tag: NB

  • NB launches Zobo alcoholic drink

    NB launches Zobo alcoholic drink

    Nigerian Breweries Plc has  introduced Ace Desire, the first Zobo-flavoured alcoholic drink, into the market.

    Its Marketing Director, Mr. Franco Maria Maggi, explained to reporters in Lagos, that Ace Desire cotains spirit, natural Hibiscus or zobo extracts, being the traditional beverage produced from Hibiscus leaves.

    “This rich combination of a balanced mix of spirit and Hibiscus extracts contains 5.5 percent alcohol, and offers a tingling sensation and rich aroma,” he said.

    According to him, Ace Desire, packaged in a 33cl glass bottle, stands out among other products on the Ready-to-Drink category.

    He added that Nigerian Breweries, “the house of quality” has delivered on yet another promise to delight consumers with the introduction of Ace Desire.

    “The brand’s ambition is to lead in the RTD category by establishing itself as the relentless pioneer of innovation”, Maggi said, while also promising that the product will be available in outlets across the country over the next few weeks.

    Maggi said the extensions of the Ace brand have been informed by the need to satisfy various consumer taste profiles that evolve and change over time.

    The firm’s Corporate Communication and Brand Public Relations Manager, Patrick Olowokere, said the drink is not to be consumed by expectant mothers or underage.

    “Zobo (Zoborodo) is a beverage made from dried Roselle plant flowers. It is also known as Roselle drink and called Sorrel drink in the Carribean.

    ‘’Zobo is not recommended for pregnant women in their first trimester or those who are undergoing fertility treatments. This is because it can lower levels of oestrogen in the body and can prompt menstruation which could ultimately lead to a miscarriage.

  • Artistes upbeat as NB sponsored talent hunt enters another round

    Artistes that were selected to the quarter finals of the Ariya Repete talent hunt competition sponsored by the Nigeria Breweries in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State and Ota in Ogun State have expressed hope over the next round of the talent hunt competition.

    From the selection parties held in both locations  on Friday, May 12, 2017, five artistes were selected from the 10 that passed through the audition stage in Ado Ekiti; with the same number selected from 11 artistes in Ota, as two contestants with the same scores in the audition were paired.

    In Ota, Ajani Azeez, Abiodun Oloto, Ismaila Afefe, all Fuji artistes; and TayoAdex; Adeniyi Temitope; both Juju artistes qualified to the quarter final stage to compete with winners from other auditions in Akure on June 30, 2017.

    Commenting on their performance in Ado Ekiti, the Senior Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream Brand, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Funso Ayeni, said he was pleased to see such talent in young artistes that are determined to make Fuji and Juju music thrive among other genres.

    Also present at the Ota audition, the Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Agu, said: “ l  am delighted at the abundance of musical talent in the South West and through Ariya Repete l believe there would be improvement, we can discover and nurture some great ones here.”

  • NB boosts agric with backward integration

    The commitment of Nigerian Breweries Plc to the Federal Government’s Backward Integration Policy (BIP) has significantly impacted the agric sector, particularly operators in the cassava and sorghum value chains.

    According to the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, the brewery giant’s BIP, which substitutes imported raw and packaging materials with local alternatives, has so far engaged about 60,000 farmers in the cultivation of sorghum alone.

    Vervelde, who spoke at a briefing in Lagos, ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM), said 48 per cent of the company’s raw materials are sourced locally, but it targets to achieve 60 per cent local raw material sourcing by 2020.

    “All our labels and crowns are sourced locally,” Vervelde said, adding that the company’s aggressive investments in the cassava and sorghum value chain will help it achieve the 60 per cent target by 2020.

    He said apart from strategic interventions in the agric sector by making quality, high-yielding seeds available to farmers, the company has stepped up its investment in Research and Development (R&D) in sorghum and cassava value chains.

    Vervelde said the company’s involvement in cassava has created several jobs for farmers engaged in extracting cassava starch, which is processed into maltose syrup.

    Vervelde further said Nigerian Breweries, last year, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to develop and commercialise hybrid sorghum.

    It also signed a tripartite partnership agreement with International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC) and Psaltry International Limited, a Nigerian cassava processing company, on value extraction of maltose syrup derived from cassava for the company’s production.

    Vervelde said the partnerships were aimed at improving agribusiness for Nigerian smallholder farmers and optimising the cassava value chain.

    According to him, local sourcing of raw materials creates shared value for the company and its stakeholders. Apart from guaranteeing sustainable supply of materials for the business, reducing dependence on imports, it encourages costs and improves the company’s environmental performance.

    The MD reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the Federal Government’s BIP and to the growth and development of the nation’s economy, despite the challenging operating environment.

    He said, for instance, that the macro-economic environment in 2016 was challenging, as scarcity of Foreign Exchange (forex), rising input prices due to the devaluation of the naira and rising inflation put consumer purchasing power under severe pressure.

    He, however, said that the company was able to weather the storm and end the year with a positive result and deliver good return on investment to its shareholders. Vervelde attributed the feat to the company’s twin agenda of Cost Leadership and Market Leadership supported by innovation.

  • NB Plc to boost local content by 60% in 2020

    NB Plc to boost local content by 60% in 2020

    Nigerian Breweries Plc has hinted of plans to boost its local content by 60 per cent before 2020.

    The Managing Director, Nicolaas Vervelde mad this pledge in Lagos recently while taking stock of the company’s performance in the 2016 financial year.

    Vervelde who spoke at a pre-yearly general meeting with explained that the company intends to take advantage of an existing Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), adding that plans are underway to harness the benefits of cassava.

    He added: “We have about 50,000 farmers that have indirect employment due to our involvement in the sorghum value chain and 200,000 farmers make use of our farm. Two or three years ago, we also got involved in cassava value chain where we worked with Dutch government trying to improve the entrepreneurship in Africa. We indirectly employ up to 3,000 farmers. Every year we see increase and we hope to improve this programme and move it to the east of the country.

    According to Vervelde, the company has successfully tracked energy consumption, reduce waste and improve on efficiency in all departments.

    The NB Plc boss who spoke on sundry issues said: “It is anticipated that economic activities will improve in 2017 considering the far reaching fiscal and monetary measures being planned and implemented by the Federal Government. It is therefore hoped that with the gradual rise in the price of oil and a steady increase in the volume of oil output, the Naira will be strengthened and forex will be more available for businesses.”

    For its first quarter performance, the company had declared a profit after tax of N11. 44 b, indicating nine per cent increase over the N10.45 billion recorded in the same period in 2016.

    Also, the company recorded revenue of N91.29 billion for the period, signifying an 18 per cent increase over the N77.55 billion achieved in 2016.

    Also, the cost of goods sold increased by 25 per cent as a result of higher input costs while results from operating activities and profit after tax grew by seven per cent and nine per cent respectively, impacted by lower net finance charges and a continued focus on its cost efficiencies.

    Revenue for the period grew by 18 per cent due to the impact of price increases implemented in 2016 to cushion the effects of the operating environment.

    On how forex sourcing has affected the operation of the company, he said: “What is important is that when you look at forex input, it is not only about what is imported; it is also about suppliers locally. Take labours for example. For Nigerian Breweries, all of our labours are got locally. For us, this is not forex related. We pay our suppliers in naira. There is also indirect impact on our cost. Devaluation last year has direct impact on us.

    “Consumers purchasing power is already under pressure and there is negative effect in terms of volume. We are prudent in thinking about price increase. Also, what we saw in 2016 when there was devaluation of 40% of the naira in official terms and parallel rates that shoot up to over N500 per dollar and inflation that went from nine to 18% is a sign that there is pressure. Therefore we cannot afford price increase.”

  • El-Rufai praises NB on contribution to economy

    El-Rufai praises NB on contribution to economy

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai has praised Nigerian Breweries Plc for its role in the economic development of the state. The company, he said, remained the biggest tax payer in the state.

    The governor, who was at NB Plc’s stand at the just-concluded Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KadInvest 2.0), said the firm plays a big role in the state, as far as investment and “economic growth are concerned”.

    The governor was accompanied by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun; Kano State Governor, Alh. Umar Ganduje and his Zamfara State counterpart and Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Alh. Abdullazeez Abubakar Yari, as well as the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan.

    El-Rufai maintained that NB Plc was a shining example in corporate Nigeria and a strategic partner for development in the state given its huge investments and social intervention programmes in Kaduna.

    Earlier, while welcoming the governor and his entourage to the stand, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of NB Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, said Kaduna State was a friendly environment for investment and has been home to Nigerian Breweries since 1964 when its first brewery was built in Kakuri.

    Ekanem thanked the Kaduna State Government for its support over the years stressing that the company will continue to be a partner for growth and development in the state in line with its commitment to supporting the development aspirations of its host governments and communities.

  • NB investments hit N243b

    NB investments hit N243b

    Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has invested N243 billion in the nation’s economy the company’s newsletter the News Agency of Nigeria reported yesterday.

    It said the N243 billion amounted to 0.65 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), saying NB has contributed positively to the economic and social development of the country by investing in the expansion of breweries in Lagos, Aba, Enugu, Kaduna and Ota.

    It said over N175 billion had been invested by NB in developing world-class brewery facilities in the past five years in Nigeria.

    The newsletter said that as at 2013, NB represented 12 per cent of Nigerian manufacturing output, equivalent to 0.23 per cent of the GDP.

    It said the NB was currently sustaining over 500,000 jobs across the country.

    The newsletter also listed these areas to include: health, education, sports, water and community development, among other areas, it had provided employment.

    It said that NB had, as well empowered many Nigerians in other areas such as  Creative Writers’ Workshop, National Arts Competition, Maltina Dance All and Golden Pen Award.

    The newsletter said that NB Plc was driven by a corporate philosophy of wining with Nigeria since incorporation in 1946 and the production of Star Larger Beer from Lagos Brewery in 1949.

  • Lagos, NB sign MoU on One Lagos Fiesta

    Lagos, NB sign MoU on One Lagos Fiesta

    The Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi  Ambode  has  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Breweries Plc on  One Lagos Fiesta.

    Ambode, who signed the MoU with the firm during a courtesy visit, commended the brewery giant for its commitment to the economic prosperity of the state and the nation.

    While congratulating the firm on its 70th anniversary, he urged its management to remain focused on excellent business practices and outstanding corporate governance.  He said the firm has been part of the development of the state since its creation 50 years ago.

    “In the last 50 years, you have contributed to the growth and development of Lagos State. We are happy you have been part of the success story of this state,” Ambode said.

    The governor highlighted the company’s contribution towards job creation through direct and indirect employment of Lagosians and praised it for being a responsible corporate citizen. He added that it has done more than any other firm in terms of corporate social responsibility in the state.

  • NB launches Go Places campaign

    NB launches Go Places campaign

    Heineken in collaboration with Nigerian Breweries (NB) has kicked off Go Places recruitment campaign.

    The campaign, according to the company, is aimed at attracting ‘future stars’ of NB and Heineken brand.

    NB Human Resource Director, Victor Famuyibo, explained that Heineken, operating in 70 countries, is a brand with global heritage and finding the right employees is key to sustain the success.

    Hence, the campaign is fashioned to discover prospective employees with inherent values of the brand, who can competently fill available vacancies in the company across the world.

    His words: “Go Places campaign is a Global Employee Value Proposition campaign aimed at attracting potential hires and current employees for Heineken operating companies.

    “The campaign has two basic assets: The Manifesto and the Interview. The manifesto is a video, which provides an interactive experience that illustrates distinctive career prospects employee could expect from working at any Heineken company, while the interview consists of 12 timed questions designed to reveal the unique traits prospective candidates will bring to the Heineken world.

    “After taking the interview, a profile would be generated which is Heineken’s interpretation of the candidate strength and skill based on the response provided. The profile can thus be used to apply for vacancies in such area of strength and skill. Recruits should expect working experience in Nigeria and at any of the 164 Heineken Breweries located in 70 countries.”

  • NB Plc, entrepreneurs fight recession

    NB Plc, entrepreneurs fight recession

    The Nigerian Breweries Plc and entrepreneurs have found some refreshing ways to tackle the economic recession. The breweries gave out N250,000 to each of 30 persons who own small businesses. The gesture was aimed at boosting those businesses in the hopes that if they get the expected lift, the brewers will have helped to fight the present recession of the economy. Given the fact that a man supports no fewer than four persons in the country, the NB Plc gesture will go a long way in relieving many families.

    Those 30 entrepreneurs got their funds through a live radio phone-in programme tagged Life Progress Business Booster show organised by NB Plc. The live show was conducted in Igbo, a way to stimulate the usage of the language said to be facing extinction. The audience spanned the entire Southeast.

    The entrepreneurs themselves should be hailed for their business ideas. Some make cocoyam flour, some ice block machines, some locust bean spice called ogili in local language.

    They presented those ideas in a contest and 30 of them won.

    The winners said the cash prizes were a godsend, coming at a time when the country is facing recession and focusing on diversification of the economy. They promised to use the cash to improve their businesses, promote made in Nigeria products as well as jobs for people roaming the streets.

    They described the process of the contest as transparent and one that took the grace of God to see them through judging by the number of people that participated in the exercise.

    One of the winners Madu James, an Imo State indigene and graduate of Economics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka, Anambra State, said years of searching for white collar job left him frustrated.

    “I have been writing applications for job and yet none was coming over the years. I attended Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State where I studied Economics and graduated in 2013.  I feel fulfilled with the cash reward and my joy is now complete because this is what I have been praying and dreaming to get but it has not been coming forth.

    “This is not the first time I am submitting business plans. I have written so many plans and none saw the light of day until this very one. I will use the money to set up the business for which I submitted the proposal. The money actually won’t be enough, but I will use the one I have to set up a business. And as the business grows, I hope to employ more people according to my profit margin. I am looking at employing about 40 persons within two years or more,” Mr. James stated.

    James describing the cocoyam powder as a good soup thickener for local delicacies including bitter leaf and Oha soup and amongst others said that the price will be affordable to all class of users while the raw materials will be sourced locally even as he hopes to export the product to other parts of the world where users of the product resides.

    He called on job seekers to try and learn how to be self-dependent and be job providers instead of relying solely on the government for job provision.

    In an interview, Mr. Agu Emmanuel, Portfolio manager for Mainstream Lager and Stout for Nigerian Breweries PLC said that the 3rd phase of Life Progress Business Booster show is part of the company’s contribution in promoting entrepreneurship using indigenous language; Igbo of the people of Southeast where the product brand is brewed and majorly marketed.

    Mr. Emmanuel said the entrepreneurs must speak Igbo and communicate their business ideas in clear Igbo language.

    “It is a yearly event,” he said. “What we did is to keep the amount constant, but increase the number of the people. The more the merrier. We rewarded 50 people across the southeastern states last year and this year we are giving out 250,000 to 200 persons across the five southeastern states. It is because we want to continue touching people’s life positively that we are using this brand to reach our numerous consumers and members of the public.

    “What you are seeing today is the result of Life booster radio programme and we are very conscious about making sure that we have a fair distribution across the states so that there will be no single state that will dominate in terms of having all the winners coming from there. And that is why when we look at the people we are going to reward through the radio programme, we look at our data base to check whether we are still within those fair balance and then, we make provisions for on the ground submission of business ideas where we can reward people.”

    On why the concentration is on Southeast, Emmanuel said, “The choice for southeast was berthed because the brand has its root from the southeast. You know that Life has a brewery in Onitsha and it is a brand that we are marketing from a regional perspective. We positioned Life for Southeast and positioned Goldberg for southwest.

    “Yes, it could have its footprints in other locations, but we can’t deny the fact that it originated from the southeast and that again because we need to be concentrated in what we are doing so that we can ensure that we are less focused in what we are doing.”

  • NB, FIIRO, others for Propak exhibition

    Leading national organisations, such as Nigerian Breweries (NB) and the Federal Institute for Industrial Research (FIIRO), have indicated their interest to participate in the largest packaging, printing and plastics exhibition in the region, Propak West Africa, which opens on Tuesday, September 20 at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    In a statement, George Pearson, one of the organisers said no fewer than 300 participants were being expected at the three-day event. He said the manufacturing sector in Lagos is vibrant and the Food and beverages sector, which represents over 30 per cent of the industry, is one of the most in the country. With the demand for packaged food and drink growing, industry players were looking to increase their capacity to meet demands. About 85 per cent of these market players were small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), who accounted for a large percentage of the sales.

    Pearson said: ‘’At Propak West Africa, 80 per cent of our visitors are SMEs in this sector and, as such, this year, we have put extra emphasis on the food and beverage markets. Our exciting programme will see leading industry experts present on topics around branding, innovation and technological solutions in this sector. It will allow participants the opportunity to gain important insights from multinational corporations, such as Diageo and This year’s show has a particular focus on branding, a very important topic for SMEs seeking to build awareness. We have some exciting sessions lined up to cover this topic, including the impact of branding on sales turnover, labelling and brand positioning.’’

    Papers would be delivered by experts, such as Baba Epega, founder and managing Director, Emc3; and Lampe Omoyele, managing director, Nielson West Africa. Fauzi Fahm, a brand expert,, will be moderating a panel on packaging innovation.