Guinness Nigeria is a set of breweries in Nigeria, distributing under the Guinness label and owned by Tolaram.[1]
History
Guinness product was sold in Nigeria in the 1940s and 1950s by United Africa Company (UAC). In 1961, Arthur Guinness Son and Co and UAC established a brewery at Ikeja, Lagos.[2]
Built by Taylor Woodrow and being the first Guinness factory outside of Ireland and the UK, the initial plant had annual capacity to brew 75 million bottles or 150,000 barrels of beer. The plant area had a 15 million capacity bottle bin and office block designed by the firm of Godwin and Hopwood.[3]
Other breweries have been opened over time: Ogba (1963) and Benin City (1973). In 2024, the majority of its shares were sold by Diageo—which continues to own all other Guinness units—to Tolaram, which previously had no background in alcoholic beverages.[4][5]
Products
Guinness Nigeria produces the following beer brands:
The popular malta (soft drink) drink range includes:
- Foreign Extra Stout (1962), 7.5% ABV (varies),
- Guinness Smooth (2005) 6% ABV,
- Smirnoff Ice (September 2006)5.5% ABV,
- Orijin (August 2013) 6%ABV[6]
- Gordon's Orange Sunset
- Gordon's Pink Berry
- Gordon's G&T
- Smirnoff Ice
- Smirnoff X1 Choco Vodka
- Smirnoff Pineapple Punch
- Don Royale
- Malta Guinness (1990),
- Dubic Malt
Community Investment
Guinness Nigeria Plc's Water of Life initiative currently provides potable water to over 500,000 Nigerians spread across several rural communities, from Northern to Southern Nigeria. It funds scholarship and provides Guinness Eye Hospitals in three cities in Nigeria.
See also
- List of beer and breweries in Nigeria
External links
References
- Tolaram Completes Acquisition of Guinness Nigeria, Announces New Board This Day, retrieved 2024-10-04^
- Olu Akinsanya. How Guinness Came Into Being The People, January 1969^
- Developments: Guinness in Nigeria West African Builder and Architect., 1963^
- Ken Opalo. Why exactly are major international firms leaving the Nigerian market? www.africanistperspective.com, retrieved 2024-06-19^
- Henry Mathieu. What does Diageo's Guinness Nigeria exit mean for its beer future? Just Drinks, 2024-06-19, retrieved 2024-06-19^
- Guinness Nigeria Launches Its Latest Blend Of Herbs And Fruits Drink Orijin In Port Harcourt retrieved 4 March 2014^