NIGERIA – Nigerian Breweries Plc, said it would ramp up efforts to source local raw materials as well as look for further improvements in its sorghum value-chain as a way of lessening the impact of foreign exchange challenges it faced during the 2016 financial year.

The country’s largest brewer added that it would be consolidating its earnings and profitability through improved market penetration with its innovative products, noting that it would carefully look at its price adjustment mechanism to ensure a balance in the management of input costs and price consumers are willing to pay for its products.

Speaking to the media ahead of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nicolaas Vervelde, said the company is making progress with its partners – International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), and Psaltry International, a local processing firm, on improving value extraction from cassava.

The MD added that the company was also making headway in the development of new hybrid sorghum varieties, noting that yields have increased over the period, which is in line with the firm’s growth projection.

“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.

“The brewed product market would remain competitive and consumers are expected to continue the down-trading as they seek for more affordable brands. Cost leadership and market leadership supported by innovation remain our key strategic pillars,” Vervelde said.

He said that the company saw a 25% increase in the cost of goods sold in Q1 due to higher input costs. However, results from operating activities increased by 7%, while profit after tax grew 9%, driven by lower net finance charges and a continued focus on its cost efficiencies.

Vervelde said that revenue in the period rose 18% due to the impact of price increases it implemented in 2016, to absorb the effect of higher inflation and depreciation of the naira.

He further added that Nigerian Breweries has developed a set of competing portfolio to address the needs of a diverse consumer base, even as he decried the low per capita consumption of beer in the country.

He said that Nigeria has a large population of 170 million people but only consumer 11-litres per person a year, while other countries with large population have far higher consumption per capita.

He added that the performance of the brewery industry in the last year has been a reflection of the economy, stressing that the industry has been undergoing slow growth due to the recession and the low purchasing power of the Nigerian consumer.

May 1, 2017: Beverage Industry News