*Girish Sharma, Managing Director and CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, says wider product availability, disciplined pricing, and commercial expansion remain central to the company’s growth strategy in the country
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Guinness Nigeria Plc is focused on sustaining growth through wider product availability, commercial expansion and disciplined pricing, Girish Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, has said.
Sharma outlined the priorities expected to shape the company’s performance in the coming quarters.
Speaking in an interview with CNBC Africa, the Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria also said the company would keep focusing on making its products more accessible to consumers while strengthening its presence across markets and distribution channels.
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He stated: “The strategy has always been growth by being available at more places, having our beer, having our products cold in a lot of places and ensuring that we are playing at the right price points.”
Sharma explained that the company’s approach is centred on expanding its reach rather than relying on price increases to drive growth.
Guinness Nigeria has increased the number of locations and cities in which its products were available, alongside growth in its distributor network, said he.
According to him, the company’s commercial expansion is part of a longer-term plan that will continue over the next three to five years.
The company’s Chief Executive further said: “In terms of number of touch points where we’re available to the Guinness Nigeria products, number of cities where we’re available today, number of distributors that we have that distribute our products today, on every single count we have grown multi-fold.”
Sharma described the expansion as a significant undertaking for the business.
He equally noted that the effort began with his first 100-day plan, and remains a key part of the company’s direction.
The Managing Director as well highlighted operational discipline and improvements made over the past year as important foundations for the business.
Earlier decisions to address the balance sheet, adjust pricing, and make fundamental corrections are now supporting the company’s growth trajectory, he stated.
Sharma explained that teams across operations and procurement were working to keep price increases to a minimum while increasing output, while a more stable currency environment had also been helpful.
Looking ahead, he disclosed the company would focus on maintaining consistency rather than promising a particular growth rate for the next quarter.
The Chief Executive of Guinness Nigeria averred: “I’m not here to stand and say that we’re going to do better than the third quarter, but what I see is we will be consistent in terms of delivering healthy results.
“Consistency is the word.”
He also highlighted the importance of the final quarter of the year to the beverage industry, citing increased consumer activity around the festive season.
Guinness Nigeria, he said, had strategic partnerships planned across the period, with some extending into the first quarter of the following year.
Sharma noted that the company’s broader ambition is to build a stronger business capable of funding its growth, rewarding shareholders and sustaining performance over time.
“The business is sturdy, business is strong, business is good, and I’m confident that we will continue to grow sustainably.”
The Managing Director’s comments underline Guinness Nigeria’s focus on extending its market reach, strengthening execution, and building consistency as it pursues its longer-term growth ambitions in the West African country.