For making the right investments in the right places since its establishment in Uganda, Crown Beverages Limited (CBL), the bottler of Pepsi, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Sting, and Nivana Water, is today basking in global glory.
On 27th June, 2019, the company won the PepsiCo Europe and Sub-Saharan African (ESSA) Bottler of the Year 2018 award. The company was also named the 1st Runner Up for the global PepsiCo Bottler of the Year award, beating over 200 other PepsiCo bottlers from all over the world.
Crown Beverages Board of Directors, Chairman Dr. Amos Nzeyi and CEO Paddy Muramiirah received the awards from the newly appointed PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta, at a lavish awards ceremony in Barcelona, Spain.
On Thursday, July 11, 2019 the bottler hosted its key partners and customers at a dinner to celebrate the achieved.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the milestones, Mr. Amos Nzeyi, the Chairman CBL commended the company’s customers, staff, shareholders, partners and the government for their contribution to the success. “We are honored to have won the ESSA Bottler of the Year 2018 Award and appreciate the support of all our stakeholders for the collaborative engagement that has led us to this achievement. The journey has just started,” Mr. Nzeyi said.
Over the last 26 years, he added, we have invested over $200 million (Ugx740 billion) to create a platform for all Ugandans and we will continue to do so. The money has been invested in factory lines, human resource, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and environmental sustainability projects.
The PepsiCo “Bottler of the Year Award” is the highest annual regional recognition conferred upon PepsiCo’s best bottling partner from PepsiCo Europe and Africa. Nominations for the award are premised on quality standards, community support, customer service, volume and sales growth as well as proven commitment to performance with purpose.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Paddy Muramiirah, the Chief Executive Officer CBL said, “Our strength and excellent achievements are coming from three pillars of the pyramid. At the base, a supportive board and a collaborative PepsiCo franchise team and on top a motivated, innovative and fast thinking team of employees.”
He said that since its establishment, CBL has built a local team with a clear understanding of the market dynamics.
“We improved our operational efficiencies, set realistic targets, and complied with all operational standard practices as required by the franchise and national regulators,” Mr. Muramiirah told guests. Besides investing in production lines, the company has also invested in community projects in different areas of life such as health, education, sports and conserving nature.
Good growth
Last year, CBL was recognized as a top tax payer by Uganda Revenue Authority with an Excellent Taxpayer Award for the financial year 2017/18. This followed its remittance of UGX 284 billion in tax to the government between 2013 and 2018, demonstrating the company’s growth and continued contribution to the transformation of the economy.
Over the last 5 years, Crown Beverages Ltd, has grown into a leader in the CSD business, experiencing a 50% in turnover, from Shs195bn in 2013 to Shs292bn. At a profit of Shs15.3bn and Tax payments of Shs77 billion in 2017 alone, CBL is one of Uganda’s largest companies and certainly one of few indigenously owned and run businesses.
Paddy Muramiirah, who was appointed CEO in November 2016 has presided over a period of growth. In 2017, his first full year as CEO, Gross turnover improved by 28% from UGX228.7bn to UGX291.8 bn while net profit grew by 69.2%, from UGX9.1bn in 2016 to UGX15.4bn
Crown Beverages Limited is Uganda’s oldest soft drinks company. The company is 100% Ugandan owned. The company’s range of carbonated soft drinks includes: Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mirinda Fruity, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Pineapple, Mirinda Green Apple, 7UP, Evervess Tonic and Nivana Water in three variants namely; Tangerine, Strawberry, still and sparkling. The products are available in returnable glass bottles and plastic/PET bottles.