Nigerian Breweries Plc, the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria was incorporated in 1946. In June 1949, the company recorded a landmark when the first bottle of STAR lager beer rolled off its Lagos Brewery bottling lines. This first brewery in Lagos has undergone several optimization process.
In 1957, the company commissioned its second brewery in Aba, now in Abia State. This was followed by Kaduna Brewery in 1963 and Ibadan Brewery in 1982. In 1993, the company acquired its fifth brewery in Enugu and in 2003, a sixth brewery (Ama Brewery), sited at Amaeke Ngwo in Enugu State was commissioned. Ama Brewery remains the biggest brewery in Nigeria. Operations in the old Enugu Brewery were discontinued in 2004 following the completion of Ama Brewery. An ultra-modern malting plant was acquired in Aba in 2008.
In October 2011, the company acquired majority equity interests in two companies, Sona Systems Associates Business Management Limited (Sona Systems), with two breweries in Ota and Kaduna, and Life Breweries Company Limited (Life Breweries) with a brewery in Onitsha. Sona Systems and Life Breweries were merged with the company in the middle of 2012. Another malting plant was acquired in Kaduna (as part of Kudenda Brewery) as a result of the acquisition of Sona System. At the end of 2014, an enlarged Nigerian Breweries Plc emerged from the merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc. Three breweries at Imagbon, near Ijebu Ode, Awo-Omamma and Makurdi were added to the existing eight breweries as a result of the merger.
Thus, from a humble beginning in 1946, the company has grown to eleven breweries from which its high quality products are produced and distributed to all parts of Nigeria, in addition to the two malting plants in Aba and Kaduna. It also has Sales Offices and Depots across the country.
Nigerian Breweries Plc has a rich portfolio of high quality brands: Star larger beer launched in 1949, followed by Gulder larger beer in 1970. Maltina, the nourishing malt drink, was introduced in 1976, followed by Legend Extra Stout in 1992 and Amstel Malta in 1994. Heineken larger beer was re-launched into the Nigerian market in 1998. Maltina Sip-it, packaged in Tetrapaks, was launched in 2005, while Fayrouz, the premium non-alcoholic soft drink, was launched in 2006. Climax, a herbal energy drink, was launched in 2010. Following the acquisition of Sona Systems and Life Breweries in 2011, Goldberg larger, Malta Gold and Life Continental larger, were added to the brand portfolio. The company increased its portfolio of brands in 2014 with the addition of Ace Passion in addition to two line extensions of the Star brand – Star Life and Star Radler. Also in 2014 as a result of the merger with Consolidated Breweries, “33” Export larger beer, Williams dark ale, Turbo King dark ale, More larger beer and two malt drinks, Maltex and Hi Malt together with Breezer, a blend of rum and fruits (three variants) became part of the company’s product offering. In 2015, the globally acclaimed premium apple cider, Strongbow (Gold Apple) was launched. Star Triple X, a further line extension of the Star brand in addition to two line extensions of the Ace brand – Ace Root and Ace Rhythm were added to the portfolio in 2015.
The company has an export business which dates back to 1986. The current export destinations are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, United States of America, other parts of Africa as well as part of the Middle East and Asia.
As a major brewing company, Nigerian Breweries Plc encourages the establishment of ancillary business. These include manufacturers of bottles, cans, crown corks, labels, cartons, plastic creates and service providers such as hotels/clubs, distributors, transporters, event managers and advertising/marketing communication agencies.
The company was listed on the floor of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1973. As at 31st December, 2015, it has a market capitalization of approximately N1.1 trillion, making it the second largest company in Nigeria by market capitalization. It has consistently been honoured with awards relating to capital market matters including, The NSE President’s Merit Award in the Brewery Sector, The NSE Quoted Company of the Year Award and The NSE CEO’s Distinguished Award for Compliance. In 2015, the company again won The NSE CEO’s Award as the “2015 Most Compliant Listed Firm” on The Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Nigerian Breweries Plc is also a recipient of numerous other awards for its operations and high-quality brands. In 2015, it received the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria’s award for being one of the three 2015 best Tax Compliant Companies in Nigeria.
Their Mission Statement: “To be the leading beverage company in Nigeria, marketing high quality brands to deliver superior customer satisfaction in an environmentally friendly way”
Their Vision: “To be a World-Class Company” – and
Core Values: Respect; Passion for Quality; Enjoyment; Performance
+ THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN NIGERIAN BREWERIES
CHIEF KOLAWOLE B. JAMODU, CFR
Chairman
Chief Jamodu was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective the 1st of March, 2006 and became the Chairman of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of January, 2008. He is a chartered accountant, an industrialist and a former Minister of Industry of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was re-appointed as Chairman PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc in 2014, after a previous stint as Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the PZ Group. He is a former Chairman of Universal Trust Bank Plc. He is the immediate past President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) and sits on the Board of United Bank for Africa Plc. Chief Jamodu was a member of the National Economic Management Team headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
MR. NICOLAAS A. VERVELDE
Managing Director/CEO
Mr. Vervelde was re-appointed a member of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of August, 2010 as well as the Managing Director/CEO effective same date. He was previously on the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director between 2001 and 2003 while as Deputy Director and later Director, Heineken Africa/Middle east. Mr. Vervelde started his career with Heineken in 1984 and held increasingly senior management positions in commercial and general management functions in Europe, Africa, Bahamas, Caribbean and Central America. He was, until his current position, the Managing Director for Heineken Caribbean, Central America and Latin America.
MR. OLUSEGUN S. ADEBANJI
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adebanji was re-appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective 28th February, 2007. He was initially on the Board as an Executive Director between 1996 and 1998 when he was the Company’s Finance Director. His career path took him through Unilever and Heineken companies in Europe and Africa. He was at different times the Managing Director of Ghana Breweries Limited and Namibian Breweries Limited.
CHIEF SAMUEL O. BOLARINDE
Non-Executive Director
Chief Bolarinde was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director 11th February, 2015. He rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and later Chairman of its Board of Directors. He is an industrialist and currently sits on the Boards of Directors of Toyota Nigeria Limited and Sunlink Petroleum Limited. He was a former Chairman of Wema Bank Plc as well as a former Non-Executive Director of the dissolved Consolidated Breweries Plc.
MR. HUBERT I. EZE
Sales Director
Mr. Eze joined the services of our company in 1992 in the Sales Department and subsequently rose through the ranks to become a Senior Manager. In 2007, he went on internationalization to Heineken Caribbean and Central America where he was the Commercial Excellence Director. Prior to his appointment to the Board of Directors effective the 1st of September, 2010, Mr. Eze was the General Manager, Heineken Latin America Export.
MR. VICTOR FAMUYIBO
Human Resource Director
Mr. Famuyibo was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 8th of September, 2008. A lawyer and Human Resources expert, he joined the company in 1986 and has performed various Human Resource functions within the company. He was on internationalization at Heineken International B.V., The Netherlands, prior to his appointment to the Board. Mr. Famuyibo is the immediate past President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
MR. SIJBE (SIEP) HIEMSTRA
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Hiemstra joined the Board of Directors effective the 1st of August, 2011 after becoming the Heineken Regional President for Africa and Middle East, a position he held until 17th August, 2015 when he retired from Heineken. He started his Heineken career in January 1978 holding commercial, general management and technical positions in different parts of Europe, Africa and Asia/Pacific. He was also the Heineken Regional President for Asia Pacific.
MR. FRANCO M. MAGGI
Marketing Director
Mr. Maggi became a member of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of September, 2015. He joined the Heineken N.V. Group in 2000. He has held finance and marketing positions in Italy, South Africa and Mexico. Mr. Maggi was the Nothern Mainstream Portfolio Director in CM/HEINEKEN Mexico prior to joining the Board of Directors of the company.
DR. OBADIAH O. MAILAFIA
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Mailafia was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 5th of December, 2014. Dr. Mailafia is a career economist, banker and international development specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He was an official of the African Development Bank Group. He was until recently the Chief of Staff of the 80-member African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium. He has served the Federal Government of Nigeria in different capacities – he was a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he was a Special Adviser to the President on Economic & Policy Matters and was a Member of the Economic Management Team headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
MRS. NDIDI O. NWUNELI, MFR
Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Nwuneli joined the Board of Directors effective the 5th of December, 2014. She is the Founder of LEAP Africa, Co-Founder of AACE Food Processing & Distribution, an indigenous agroprocessing company, and a Partner at Sahel Capital, an advisory and private equity firm focused on the agribusiness sector in West Africa. She has over 20 years of private sector experience and international development experience. She sits on the Boards of Nestle Nigeria Plc and Cornerstone Insurance Plc.
MRS. IFUEKO M. OMOIGUI OKAURU, MFR
Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Omoigui Okauru was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 20th of February, 2013. She has over three decades of work experience with proven leadership ability at board and executive management levels in both private and public sectors. She was the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which she led meritoriously for two consecutive terms. Mrs. Omoigui Okauru was also a member of the National Economic Management Team headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She is currently the Managing Partner of compliance Professionals Plc, a consultancy company and also sits on the Boards of Central Securities Clearing System Plc, ReStral Ltd. and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. She is a Commissioner of a non-partisan body, the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT) and Chairman of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
MR. ATEDO N.A. PETERSIDE, CON
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Peterside was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 21st of August, 2008. He is the Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc as well as the President and Founder of ANAP Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to promoting Good Governance. He was the Chairman of the Committee that crafted the first corporate Governance Code for Public Companies in Nigeria. He is the Chairman of both Cadbury Nigeria Plc and ANAP Business Jets Limited. He also sits on the Boards of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Standard Bank Group Limited, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Unilever Nigeria Plc.
MR. ROLAND PRIMEZ
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Primez joined the Board of Directors effective 1st of September, 2015 shortly after becoming the Heineken Regional President for Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe. He started his Heineken career in 1995 and has held general management positions within the Heineken N.V. Group in Africa, Asia and Europe. He was, until his current position, the Regional President for Asia Pacific.
MR. MARK P. RUTTEN
Finance Director
Mr. Rutten was appointed to the Board of Directors of the company effective 1st of August, 2014. He joined the Heineken N.V. Group in 2000 and has occupied various finance positions in Europe and Africa. Prior to his appointment to the Board, he was the Finance Director of Bralima Brewery (the Heineken operating company in Democratic Republic of Congo).
MR. HENDRIK A. WYMENGA
Technical Director
Mr. Wymenga became a member of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of September, 2010. He started his Heineken N.V. career in 1994 when he joined the Technological Department of Vrumona B.V., a subsidiary of the former. He has subsequently brought his technical expertise to bear in packaging, brewing, production and supply chain within the Heineken N.V Group in Europe, the Caribean and the Americas. Before his appointment to the Board of Directors as the Technical Director, Mr. Wymenga was the Regional Supply Chain Manager, Heineken Americas.
UABOI G. AGBEBAKU, Esq.
Company Secretary/Legal Adviser
Mr. Agbebaku was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Directors effective the 1st of January, 2008. He joined the company in January 2003 as the Legal Affairs Manager. Before then, he was in private practice as a legal practitioner with the law firm of David Garrik & Co.