Guinness in aggressive expansion of value-brand segment

In order to underline its leadership in the country’s brewery industry, Guinness Nigeria plc is expanding its value-brand segment, which includes Orijin Ready-to-Drink and Orijin Bitters.

Guinness Nigeria recently took select journalists round its Orijin factory at Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, to underscore its openness and responsibility. The tour, which was led by Sesan Sobowale, corporate affairs director, was an opener as it revealed Guinness’ continued expansion projects in a bid to satisfy consumers, create jobs and contribute to the economy.

About 250,000 cans of Orijin Ready-to-Drink are now pushed into the market on daily basis, thanks to expansion projects by the brewer.

Orijin Bitters is a unique bittersweet spirit blended with the flavours of specially selected African herbs and fruits, combined to give bitter-sweet taste.

According to Sobowale, the company will continue to play its role as a responsible and responsive company. Across the past three years, the company has invested N52 billion in capacity expansion of its breweries in Lagos and Benin City. “Just last year, we established a local spirits manufacturing plant at Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, where our local spirit brand, Orijin Bitters, is being manufactured,” he said.

Guinness is a major economic player in Nigeria with interest in beer, non-alcoholic beverages and spirits (both locally-produced and imported). It is part of Diageo plc with headquarters in the UK. Diageo is the world’s leading premium alcohol drinks business with an outstanding collection of brands in over 180 markets. In Nigeria, Diageo operates two businesses – Guinness Nigeria plc, which is its beer business, and Diageo Brands Nigeria Limited, her spirits business.

Together with Diageo Brands Nigeria Limited, Guinness Nigeria is a total beverage alcohol company with a range of market leading brands across beer, wines and spirits. These include Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Harp Lager Beer, Smirnoff Ice, Malta Guinness, Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Smirnoff Vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur, Gordon’s Gin, J&B (whisky), Ciroc (vodka) and Captain Morgan (rum).

Odinaka Anudu