Senate intervenes in carbonated soft drinks market war

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has intervened in the raging cold war over market share between two players in the Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) industry, the Seven-Up Bottling Company and an indigenous company, Rite Foods makers of Bigi Cola.

Findings revealed that Rites Foods which came to the CSD industry in 2016 with a breakthrough has been having a running battle with Seven UP Bottling Company and another multinational company.
Contrary to public expectations, the petition brought before the Senate was not heard by the Senate Committee on Public Petitions on Tuesday.

Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of the Committee and senator representing Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure said his Committee had a closed door meeting with representatives of the two companies who agreed to resolve their misunderstanding with an agreement to get back to the Senate Committee in two weeks.

He said:” “We have been able to sit the two management together, because we believe that the issue is a matter that can be resolved amicably through the instrument of alternative conflict resolution that will bring more result to the country..
”I decided to hold a close door meeting in my office with both parties.

”A company that engages 2000 Nigerians in her employ and then the other having a higher figure of 5000 in her employ, it is our wish as a Senate to see them progress adding more value to the country than issues that will destroy them.

“We resolved in the committee and gave them two weeks to resolve the matter together, let them be friends.”