Guinness Nigeria posts strong 2026 start as CEO credits efficiency, localised operations

Guinness Nigeria Plc has reported a strong start to the 2026 financial year, posting significant profit growth as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Girish Sharma, attributed the performance to operational efficiency, decentralised decision-making, and expanded market reach.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC Africa, Sharma said the company’s improved results reflected the success of a strategic reset implemented over the past year.

According to him, Guinness Nigeria strengthened its distribution network, improved internal efficiency, and empowered local teams by bringing key decision-making processes closer to the Nigerian market.

“We grew distribution, we’ve become far more efficient today, and we were able to make our people more agile because we brought decision-making down to Nigeria,” Sharma said.

He noted that while the company may not sustain exceptionally high growth rates recorded during the reset period, it still expects to maintain double-digit growth going forward.

The brewer opened the 2026 financial year with a 48 per cent year-on-year increase in Profit After Tax, which rose to ₦10.39 billion, while revenue climbed by 4 per cent to ₦122.77 billion. Earnings per share also improved during the period, as net finance costs declined significantly, reflecting tighter cost controls and improved capital efficiency.

The company’s board also approved an interim dividend of ₦2.00 per share, amounting to about ₦4.38 billion in total payout to shareholders.

Sharma said the company’s recovery strategy was built around four major pillars, including organisational culture, operational excellence, consumer-focused innovation, and financial performance.

“First was culture; we needed to make people feel more empowered,” he said. “Second was operational excellence by localising what we do; we wanted to achieve more efficiency with this.”

He added that consumer preferences remain central to the company’s long-term growth plans, noting that Guinness Nigeria has intensified product innovation while reviewing existing offerings to align with changing market realities.

The CEO also pointed to the growing impact of Nigeria’s cost-of-living pressures on consumer spending patterns, saying the company is increasingly focusing on value-driven innovations to retain market relevance.

As part of that strategy, he cited the recent launch of Orijin Beer in PET format, describing it as an example of how the company is adapting product packaging and pricing to meet evolving consumer demand.

Sharma further identified ready-to-drink beverages, mainstream spirits, beer, and malt drinks as categories with strong growth potential over the next few years.

“Consumer tastes are evolving quickly, and our job is to stay close to those shifts and respond with the right products,” he said.

He maintained that Guinness Nigeria’s restructuring efforts have positioned the company for a more execution-focused phase aimed at strengthening category leadership and sustaining long-term growth.