CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 BRIEF HISTORY OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA BOTTLING COMPANY PLC
Nigeria Bottling Company came into existence on 8th May 1886, Late A.G Leventis founded file company and was the first in this country to be offered franchise by an international soft drink firm. The first plant which was cited in Lagos went into operation in March 1953. Coke was the first soft drink to have its own designed shaped bottles, which was different from the company went public by the issue of 372, 500 ordinary share of 50 kobo each. This was in compliance with the Nigerian Enterprise promotion decree of 1972.
Some years after the Ibadan plant was opened (though later shut down due to non availability of good water in Ibadan Metropolis) that of Port Harcourt was established and many other followed of which Ilorin plant came into existence in April 1979 so as to be able to meet the demands of the customers in the region. Ilorin plant was mainly established to meet the needs of the people in Bida, Jebba, Ogbomosho, Okene, Osogbo, Kontagora, Ijagbo, Offa, Lokoja and Ilorin metropolis. The plan has 8 managers.
The range of soft drink bottled by Nigerian Bottling Company plant include Fanta, Orange, Coke, Sprite, Krest, Bitter Lemon, Ginger Ale and Eva water. In terms of sales the company enjoys a wide acceptance of its product.
Quality is the key word which determines the success of the whole operation only the best ingredients are used for the making of their soft drinks and sophisticated washing and filling equipment have been installed at all part. Extremely high standard of hygiene are maintained to ensure that tip quality product reach their customers. Ranging Nigeria Bottling Company as a whole its performance is highly appreciated.
In 1972 the company went public by the assurance of 372 -566 ordinary shares of 50 kobo per share. This was in compliance with Nigeria enterprises promotion decree of 1992. The company offered 1.4 million share for subscription in 1974 and added 81, 921 shares which were transferred from non resident shareholders to the Nigeria Republic and it increased the number of shareholder to 14,000 when the company first started its products to the ranges of soft drink bottled in Nigeria are coke, sprite, krest biter, lemon club sopda, soda water, tonic water, gingerale, black current, bottle water, lemonade and fanta grapes (fanta grape and lemonade have been dropped). In terms of sales, the company enjoy a wide acceptance of its product. For instance, in 80’cl the sales grew by 2-6 time and resulted in an increase in market share. The sales is said to have for the year to come presently the company employment level stand between 100-120,000 and about 26, 000 in the management level.
The company in other to get its raw material readily available has established subsidiary. The subsidiaries include Delta Glass Limited, Ughel which produced the bottles for the use of the company, Ijebu Ode. The plastic created the made by Nigeria Bottling Company the plastic division of Benin, the carbon dioxide (C02¬) is made by chemical industry limited and cans are made by continental can industry, Otta.
As sugar from the biggest of the company’s input for sufficiency Nigeria Bottling Company Plc has decided to produce its own sugar. To accompany this aim, a maize product limited has been floated with total equity investment of N600 million.
In terms of the relationship between the apartment in the company. The Nigeria Bottling Company Plc has the following department, they are; production, accounting, stores and sales departments (at each plants) and a marketing department at Ikeja (Headquarters). The overall boss of the company is an executive director where is, at Ikeja, Headquarters of the Company. At each of the plant, the plant director controls the activities of various sales administrative, personnel training, accounting and store department. Each department is under a firm control or a manger who oversee the activities of the department. These manager report directly to plant director.
