Cadbury   Shareholders Approve 16k Dividend, Commend Return to Profitability

FMAN

Shareholders of Cadbury Nigeria Plc last  Friday approved a total dividend of N301.51 million declared by the company for the financial year ended December  31,  2017. The dividend, which translates to 16 kobo per share, was approved by the shareholders   at the company’s 53rd annual general meeting  (AGM) held in Lagos.

The shareholders commended the company for the return to profitability and  recommendation of the dividend.  For instance,  Mr. Emmanuel Popoola , said it was very encouraging for the company to  post profit and declare dividend despite the  challenging operating environment.

He urged the company to work harder in order to ensure enhanced dividends in the years ahead.

Another shareholder, Mr. Oderinde  Taiwo,   tasked  the company to  introduce   new products in order  to increase its  market share and bottom line.  He said  the company should target products that would address health issues  like diabetes.

Taiwo also  called on the company to look for cheaper means of financing its activities to reduce finance cost, advising  the company to consider  floating rights issue in the future for fresh capital instead of working for banks.

In his response,  Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria,  Mr.  Atedo Peterside,  said the company was working on some new products, which would be launched at the appropriate time.

Peterside said the company built its business on four key pillars, such as price competitiveness, aggressive route to market initiatives and sustained consumer-driven activations.

He said the company’s top priorities in the current year is to sustain focus on quality, drive improvements in productivity and reinforce operational efficiency to maximise its competitive advantage.

The chairman added that the company would drive growth ahead of competition to increase market share within its product categories.

According to him, the company will continue to develop an organisation of high potential talent and sustain aggressive route-to-market initiatives.

Cadbury Nigeria  posted revenue of N33.08 billion in 2017  compared with N29.98 billion  achieved in the comparative period of 2016. Its profit before tax stood at N350.32 million from a loss before tax of N562. 87 million recorded in the previous year, while profit after tax   stood at N299. 99 million  against a loss for the year of N296. 40 million  recorded  in 2016.

The company said refreshment beverages which include Bournvita and Cadbury 3-in-1 hot chocolate contributed 55 per cent to its revenue in 2017, while 31 per cent was from confectioneries such as Tom-Tom peppermint and its variants, while 14 per cent  of the revenue came from Intermediate Cocoa products.