POPULAR beverage brands, Lucozade Boost and Ribena brands may experience a repackaging as Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria, new owners of the brands, enlarges its footprint into the Nigerian market.
Giving this hint in Lagos, while announcing the company’s commencement of full operations in Nigeria, with the two global brands- Lucozade and Ribena, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Chinedum Okereke, stated that re-packaging the products has become necessary to enable the brands reflect the identity of the new owners.
He described the development as a fall-out of the recent completion of the divestment of the drinks bottling and distribution business between GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc and Japanese global beverage company, Suntory Beverage & Food.
While expressing the belief that the company’s investment in Nigeria would yield positive results, he, however described the investment as a clear demonstration of the company’s unflinching faith in the country’s business environment.
“This new investment is a clear demonstration of Suntory’s confidence in the Nigerian economy. The company relies on the strong connection between the Nigerian consumers and its Lucozade and Ribena brands and is especially confident of the nation’s immense potential for economic growth and the impressive productivity level of its people.
“Our conviction in the Nigerian market is responsible for the company’s decision to invest in the country and contribute to human resource empowerment to run the business as a wholly Nigerian company,” he said.
While reiterating the company’s commitment to consistently providing quality drinks through well researched market insight, the Suntory boss expressed the desire of the company to leverage on the rich heritage and tradition of the two brands to deliver value to its customers.
He noted that with the company’s global credentials and successes, it would gain a solid platform into the Nigerian soft drinks industry for its iconic Lucozade and Ribena brands.