Nigeria’s foremost brewing company, Nigerian Breweries Plc, has officially completed the acquisition of
a majority stake (80%) in Distell Wines and Spirits Nigeria Limited (Distell Nigeria).
The completion of the transaction follows the approval of the South Africa Reserve Bank (SARB) for the
acquisition by Nigerian Breweries Plc, of the shares of the South African entity, Distell International
Limited (now known as Heineken Beverages Holdings Limited) in Distell Nigeria, as well as the import
business of Distell International Limited in Nigeria.
According to the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi, the acquisition and
subsequent commencement of business operations align with the strategic objective of the brewery
company to expand its current product offerings beyond beer to include wines, spirits, and flavored
alcoholic beverages.
Essaadi, noting that the company remains unwavering in its commitment to cater to the diverse needs
of consumers, said “This acquisition is part of efforts to provide access to a complementary multi-
category portfolio of fast-growing brands of wines and spirits market segment and capture significant
growth opportunities in the wines and spirits segment of the brewing industry. We are excited to have
the process completed and can’t wait to see how this transforms our business”.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Distell Nigeria, Mr. Steve Ighorimoto, stated that the acquisition
is an exciting new chapter for the company as it would help increase the capacity necessary to achieve
improved business performance.
“We are excited to be a part of Nigerian Breweries, as we share in the solid track record of growth,
including a highly engaged, dynamic, experienced, and diverse team. These changes will strengthen the
organization’s manufacturing, marketing, and distribution capabilities while ensuring sustainable growth
and maximum value creation for all stakeholders,” he said.
Distell Nigeria is involved in the local production of wines and ciders under license from Heineken
Beverages. With the acquisition, Nigerian Breweries will have access to both the local production and
the importation of wines, spirits, and flavoured alcoholic beverages brands from South Africa, including
Amarula Crèam Liquor, Nederburg, Drostdy-Hof, 4th Street, Bain’s Whiskey, Knight Whiskey, Scottish
Leader Whiskey, Chamdor wine ranges, Hunters, and Savanna.