International Breweries, a subsidiary of AB InBev, is unarguably one of the most sophisticated breweries here in Nigeria. With a $250mn brewery situated in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, the company is apparently not here to joke with its contemporaries.
International Breweries’ site at Sagamu, is the company’s largest African brewery outside of South Africa. The company, which has an International reputation was incorporated in December 1971 under the name International Breweries Limited. The Company commenced production of its flagship product Trophy Lager in December 1978 with an installed capacity of 200,000 hectoliters per annum.The company has undergone many expansion programmes, with the first in December 1982. After that year, the company was listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in April 1995.Belgium’s AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, acquired SAB Miller Nigeria, owner of International Breweries, Pabod Breweries and Intafact Breweries, in 2016, merging the three entities into one and adopting the name International Breweries.
Before then, a merger agreement started in January 2012 when SABMiller entered into a strategic alliance with the Castel group who were majority shareholders at the time. The 2016 scheme of merger was sanctioned by the Court and Regulatory authorities in order to provide for the optimization of efficiencies, leverage on economies of scale and shareholder value creation amongst others. Ever since then, the company has waxed stronger. This increased the company’s production facilities to 4 breweries: In Osun State – Ilesa, Anambra State – Onitsha, Rivers State – Port Harcourt and recently Gateway brewery in Ogun State. The corporate headquarters of the Company is located in Lagos. Starting with just two brands, Trophy Lager and Beta malt, its brand offering now includes Budweiser, Hero Lager, Castle lite, Grandmalt, Eagler Lager and Eagle Stout.International Breweries unequivocally, ranks as Nigeria’s second largest brewery, producing top-notch beer brands. The company proudly has four breweries in Nigeria. These facilities include Ogun, Ilesa, Onitsha and Port Harcourt.International Breweries Plc, despite reporting a third straight yearly loss coming to N12.365 billion for 2020, has made concerted efforts at picking up from these losses and satisfying its unending customers. One could blame the loss on the unrealised foreign exchange loss and depreciation recorded by the beer-maker which weighed on earnings, data from its audited earnings.However, the company has edged up its Revenue by 3.4 per cent from N132.352 billion to N136.791 billion, according to reports.
The AB InBev-backed International Breweries has a more than 19 times rise in its shareholders’ fund from N7.463 billion to N151.734 billion, buoyed by proceeds from its right issue of 18.266 billion ordinary shares. Its total assets, according to reports, also scaled up from N365.147 billion to N372.646 billion.Ably led by Michael Onochie Ajukwu, its Managing Director, International Breweries has not rested on its oars in delivering top-notch services to its customers within the Nigerian circle. Also, an Independent Non-Executive Director of MTN, Mr. Ajukwu is an alumnus of University of Lagos where he bagged a B.Sc. in Finance; He also bagged a MBA, from Stern School of Business, New York University.He is a highly skilled business mogul with over 21 years’ experience in the banking industry and an extensive understanding of the Nigerian Political Economy with a special focus on Energy, Real Estate, and Adolescent Education.Beyond his status at IB Plc, Ajukwu Chairs Broad Street Capital Partners; he is also an independent Non-Executive Director of Sterling Bank Plc. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Tiger Brands South Africa; and a Non-Executive Director, of Novotel Hotel.Under his leadership, International Breweries launched Naija Bar Rescue, to support Bars hit by the covid-19 lockdown.
The company compassionately felt the need to reach-out to bars, after the hit of CoVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated lockdowns and restriction of movement in most parts of the world, including Nigeria. Beyond this, the company was in the forefront in the fight against covid-19 in Nigeria. It demonstrated its commitment to collaborate and partner with its stakeholders, including government, to reduce the spread and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.The company in a statement admitted that continued closure of the bars and restaurants, particularly in Nigeria, poses a risk to the continuity of these businesses which can affect our economy negatively as they are a part of the micro, small and medium enterprises that contribute to economic growth.“Worried by this possibility, Budweiser, a brand from the stables of IBPlc., has launched a unique initiative, termed ‘Naija Bar Rescue’ to help sustain these bars during and after the pandemic, and also provide a platform for consumers to support their favorite bars”, the statement read.Budweiser’s aim, through the initiative is to ensure that bars and pubs remain financially strong and are able to quickly resume full operations as soon as the lockdown is fully lifted, and is co-opting loyal consumers, who are also willing to see their favourite relaxation joints remain in business, into a scheme that has rightly been described as ‘first-of-its-kind’ in the country.
The programme therefore encouraged loyal consumers to buy gift cards online from their favourite bars via the website: www.naijabarrescue.com for consumption on-premise at the end of the lockdown. This will not only make liquidity available to the bars during the lockdown, but also assure the bar owners of the future of their businesses.The novel initiative cuts across the country as bars in various states and the FCT are registered on the platform and consumers are encouraged to recommend their favourite bars for inclusion in the scheme, where such bars are not already on the launch-out list.The company has also demonstrated its commitment to supporting government and communities in healthcare and infrastructure delivery, when it commissioned a N44 million Primary Health Care Centre in Oginigba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The inauguration of the project was achieved about five months after its ground breaking ceremony held in November, 2019.International Breweries Plc., a proud member of the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-BuschInbev (AB InBev) invested N44 Million to build, furnish and equip the health centre which will be subsequently managed by the Rivers State Primary Health care Management Board.
Olamide Adeniyi is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
