P&G plans $3bn factory expansion investment

Stanislav Vecera, managing director, P&G West Africa, disclosed this in Lagos at the Brand Academy to kick-start activities lined for the company’s 15th anniversary in Nigeria.

With more than 300 brands sold in over 160 countries and eight brands produced locally, Vecera said the company, had in just 15 years grown and expanded tremendously, contributing significantly to the development of the Nigerian economy since it commenced operations in 1992.

Tracing the history of the company in Nigeria, he stated that the company had in 1985 acquired Richardson Vicks, a pharmaceutical company that already had a presence in Nigeria, which gave birth to P&G Nigeria.

"Actual manufacturing of products locally started in 1993 with Always sanitary pads. In 1994, P&G expanded its local manufacturing facilities to include lines producing pampers diapers and Vicks throat drops.

In 2002, a new pampers diaper factory to produce an upgraded pampers product was built. This was followed in 2004 with the commissioning of an ultra modern unique Always sanitary pads line in Ibadan."

He said the company in order to further boost its presence in the country, built a new world-class detergent factory, which was commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo November, last year, stressing that the factory is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa with its quality assurance adjudged P&G best in the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He disclosed that the impact of the plant is felt outside the shores of Nigeria as the company’s products are exported to other African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa, while expanding into other countries in the West African sub-region with Nigeria as the central business hub.

"Over the past 15 years, P&G has evolved into a company with a strong portfolio of leading brands such as Always sanitary pads, Ariel detergent, Pampers diapers, Vicks throat drops, Gillette personal care products, Duracell batteries, Oral B toothbrushes and Bonux detergent. Today, I am so pleased to see our brands winning various prestigious awards, including being accorded "Superbrand" status by the world leading independent arbiter of brands," he stated.