Again, Nigerian Breweries Announces Third Price Hikes in Three Months

Dike Onwuamaeze

In what seems to have become a monthly ritual, the Nigerian Breweries Plc has once again announced a hike in the prices of its products that would take effect from April 9, 2024, after it had made similar announcements in February and March 2024.
A price review notification the Nigerian Breweries issued on April 5 to all direct customers in its west zone notified them “of the price review for some of our SKU’s, which takes effect from Tuesday, April 9, 2024.”

The notification, which was signed by its Zonal Business Manager-West, Mr. ‘Lekan Awosanya, also said that “all open orders in our system at 00.00 hours on April 9, 2024, will be invoiced at the new prices.

“For further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your regional business manager.”
The latest price review would affect 45 products that are manufactured by the company and also cut across its alcoholic and nonalcoholic products such as beer, malted, and other drinks.

The affected brands included Export, Goldberg, Gulder, Heineken, Life, More Lager, Star, Star Lite, Star Radler, and Tiger beers. Others are Amstel Malta, Maltina, Hi Malt Fayrouz products, etc.
The Nigerian Breweries had notified its distributor that it would increase the prices of its products on March 15, 2024, after a similar exercise on February 19, 2024.

The company had attributed the review of its prices in March to the continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact.  
It stated: “As earlier informed, we will review the prices of some of our SKUs effective Friday, March 15, 2024. This review has become necessary because of the continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact.

“All open orders in our system at 00.00hrs on Friday, March 15, 2024, will be invoiced at the new prices.”
The notification added that “while thanking you for your commitment to our great partnership, be rest assured that we will continue to support your sales/distribution efforts as always.

“For further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your regional business manager. Happy selling!”
The brewery issued a similar “Price Review Notification” to all its direct customers in the west zone on February 12, 2024, for another price adjustment that commenced on   February 19, 2024.

The notification said: “Please accept our best compliments! This is to inform you that we are constrained to review the prices of some of our SKUs with effect from Monday, February 19, 2024. This review has become necessary because of continued rising input costs and the need to mitigate the impact.
“In appreciation of our great partnership and your commitment, we will deliver at current prices all open orders that are fully funded and created in our system before 00.00hrs on Monday 19th February 2024.”

It, however, explained that orders exceeding the communicated quantity window will be subject to the revised pricing.
“The exact quantity of orders that will be allowed will be communicated to you by your regional business manager (RBM). Any order over this quantity will be re-invoiced at the new price on February 19, 2024,” the statement added.

Earlier in August 2023, the Nigerian Breweries also carried out a price hike on its selected products, which took effect from August 10, 2023.
It would be recalled that the company booked a net loss of N106 billion in its audited result for 2023 due to the steep depreciation of the Naira.
It, however, recorded an operating profit of N44.5 billion.
Highlights of its 2023 report included an increase in revenue by 9.0 per cent while its cost of sales increased by 15 per cent.