Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a major beverage manufacturer in Nigeria, has re-launched bournvita, the company’s leading international brand.
The new Bournvita was unveiled in Lagos yesterday, is described as a response by Cadbury Nigeria to the increased nutritional needs of Nigerian children and families.
The company’s managing director/CEO, Mr. Roy Naaman, said at the product re-launch that his company was headed for a new world record with bournvita, which is produced with the best technology in the world today.
According to him, with improved nutritional content, the new bournvita is about better nutrition for Nigerians. He said the product has now been made creamier with increased quantities of cocoa and milk added.
He assured consumers that the new bournvita contains a lot of vitamins needed to nourish body and mind. Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Lagos State governor, who graced the event, appreciated the efforts of Cadbury Nigeria in consistently providing a wide range of products that have been the favourites of Nigerian homes for many years.
She said the bournvita brand has been sustained in the Nigerian market since 1965, providing nourishment for Nigerian children and adults since then.
She noted that increased competition in the food/beverages market has really warranted a re-launch of bournvita to reinforce its presence and consumer awareness in the marketplace. Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, director general of NAFDAC said the agency is committed to supporting local manufacturers to attain safe quality standard of consumer products.
She said the continued existence of the food industry depends on giving out safe consumer products and urged Cadbury Nigeria to remain compliant to ensure all its products meet the high standards of NAFDAC.
In her own address at the event, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, said the society has endorsed bournvita with which Cadbury is fighting malnutrition in Nigeria. She observed that 37% of Nigerian children have stunted growth due to malnutrition and bournvita contains a lot of vitamins needed by children.
She urged the company to also produce products for managing specific health conditions. “We want Nigeria to be healthy because only healthy people can make useful contributions to economic development”, she said.
Mr. Joshua Nggada Yakubu, who represented DG., Consumer Protection Council at the product re-launch, said his office receives complaints from consumers but has not yet received any complaints about Cadbury Nigeria’s products.
He said this is an indication of high quality standards of products from the company.
He asked the company’s management to make available to the council its internal mechanism for consumer complaints resolution to enable the council work hand in hand with the company in carrying out its functions