Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser entrance puts Heineken on alert in Nigeria – CEO

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Heineken’s CEO has said Nigeria’s premium beer market is on track for success despite pressure from value brands and the launch of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser.

Jean-Francois van Boxmeer admitted yesterday Heineken is facing tough challenges in Nigeria – one of the brewer’s major international markets. A combination of factors, including the Budweiser launch and a weakened economy from oil price falls, has seen price pressure on the market-leading Heineken lager.

Heineken CEO Jean-Francois van Boxmeer admitted to challenges in Nigeria

Van Boxmeer said problems have been compounded because while Heineken has taken pricing in Nigeria because of duty rises, A-B InBev, which launched Budweiser in the country in April, has not.

READ: NIGERIAN BREWERIES RECORDS N18 BILLION PROFIT FOR HALF YEAR 2018

“Nigeria is a competitive pressure point with ABI,” van Boxmeer said. “It is difficult. They are gearing up with capacity.”

He continued: “And that in an environment where the purchasing power has not really improved yet. That brings people who are looking for value propositions.”

Despite the headwinds, van Boxmeer said he remained confident in Heineken’s position in Nigeria as the country’s premium beer sector continued to grow. In yesterday’s H1 results, Heineken’s beer volumes in Nigeria fell mid-single digits, but volumes growth for brand Heineken was up double digits.

“It is a market which is changing,” van Boxmeer explained. “We don’t know where to it will change, but it is also definitely a market where we are under pressure… Long term, it remains a market, I think, with a lot of potentials, but it needs also to have an improvement in the oil prices.”

Africa, Middle East & Eastern Europe, where consolidated beer volume grew 5.6% organically and net revenue per hectoliter beia was up 5.2%. We saw strong double-digit volume growth in South Africa, Russia, Ethiopia and Egypt. This offsets a volume decline in Nigeria due to the continued weak economic environment, some destocking at the distributor level and competitive pressure. Regional operating profit beia was up 4.3% organically, mainly driven by South Africa and Ethiopia.

It is now two years since a devaluation of the Naira almost doubled the finance costs of Heineken’s Nigerian subsidy, Nigerian Breweries. The devaluation, which knocked 40% off the currency, came amid an economic downturn fuelled by a drop in global oil prices. Heineken holds a 54% stake in Nigerian Breweries, which is the leading brewer in Nigeria.

The three major players in the Nigerian market Heineken N.V. owners of Nigerian Breweries, AB InBev owners of International Breweries and Diageo-owned Guinness Plc have stepped up their game in their bid to gain market share and profitability. Nigerian Breweries recently launched Tiger Beer into the Nigerian market, International Breweries also introduced Budweiser dubbed king of Beer into the Nigerian market, while Guinness has also increased its Spirit brands in the market.