Guinness Nigeria Plc released its 2015 first quarter results for the period ended September 2015 showing pre-tax profits fell a whopping 71% year on year. The company had in the preceding quarter also announced a 20% drop in full year profits as it continues to quiver over a shift in beer consumption pattern in Nigeria. Any keen observer would have noticed that Nigerians currently drink more of spirits than beer.

It is not that Nigerians don’t love beer, it is just that they have changed their tastes, sentiments and preference. In changing consumption patterns they have also decided on how much they can pay for alcohol. With the influx of various liquors (both refined and unrefined) all over our street corners, most people are washed with options…much cheaper options. With as much as N50, you can get yourself a ‘quality’ douse of alcohol enough to satisfy thirst. The days where you need to rely on bottled beer to quench thirst is gone and won’t be coming back soon. Guinness recognised this change in consumption pattern and had quickly settled in for value beers. In comes Orijin!

Orijin

Guinness reported its first major profit decline in 2012 when it miscalculated by increasing prices of its flagship brands. The increase in prices affected volumes as beer drinkers abandoned its premium brands for cheaper brands that were near substitutes. This was a major headache for Guinness who quickly responded with an intensified marketing of its Dubic brand which it launched in 2012. It did not stop there and went on to Launch the Orijin brand in 2014. With two value brands in the market (in addition to Snap) it had at least protected market share. Losing on both market share and sales was not an option.

Impact of Orijin

Orijin to its credit has taken the market by storm and is probably one of the most popular drinks in town. The drink comes in various flavours, shapes and sizes and caters to different tastes and pockets. Whilst the drink has been a major hit amongst beer drinkers it hasn’t been a success story for Guinness as the results indicates.

Guinness makes its money by selling premium beer which is what Guinness Stout has done for decades. It’s premium positioning and pricing helps Guinness pay for its huge operational costs. However, with people drinking less Guinness and more Orijin the company cannot generate enough sales to drive profitability growth. It is a challenge the company itself recognises affirming it when it presented its investor presentation for its 2014 FY results. Back then it referenced growth in its value segment as one of the major drivers for its profitability decline.


The CEO also referred to the impact of the growth of its valued brands in its press released issued last week.


“In the period under review, sales continued to grow despite a challenging trading environment, being 3% ahead of the same quarter last year. Despite the sales growth, gross profit declined by 12% versus the same period last year due to the impact of exchange rate devaluation, inflation, an increased share of value brands, together with the phasing of costs. ”

So whilst Orijin has been a major success for the company in terms of gaining market share and increasing top line sales, it has also crowded out Guinness Stout taking down profits in its wake. How the company intends to balance this quagmire is unclear as it has not provided investors with a pathway. It has to continue to rely on Orijin to drive sales but will need Guinness sales to bounce back if profits are to grow again.

For now it seems they are focused on reigning in on cost whilst maintaining market share. Their fate is probably intertwined with spending and consumption pattern of Nigerians which is affected by increase in their disposable income as well as a rebound of robust economic growth. For now, they can only hope that you drink more Guinness Stout.
more on...http://nairametrics.com/why-orijin-is-causing-more-harm-than-good-to-guinness/

Ok

9ice write-up, i challenge the writer to mail this to Guinness Ccare...