A combination of operational efficiency, decentralised decision-making, and deeper market penetration has helped Guinness Nigeria Plc begin 2026 on a strong note, according to the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Girish Sharma.
Speaking during an interview with CNBC Africa, Sharma explained that the company’s recent performance was the result of deliberate restructuring efforts carried out over the past year to reposition the business for long-term sustainability and growth.
According to him, bringing key decision-making processes closer to the Nigerian market significantly improved efficiency and responsiveness within the organisation.
“We grew distribution, we’ve become far more efficient today, and we were able to make our people more agile because we brought decision-making down to Nigeria,” Sharma said.
He noted that while the company experienced remarkable growth during the period, management remained focused on maintaining realistic but ambitious expectations going forward.
“The past year has been a year of reset, but expecting 144 per cent revenue growth might not be what we should be looking at. However, I don’t see why we’d not be growing by double digits at the very least,” he added.
The remarks followed the release of the company’s 2026 financial performance, which showed a significant improvement in profitability. Profit After Tax climbed by 48 per cent year-on-year to N10.39 billion, while revenue rose by four per cent to N122.77 billion.
The brewer also posted stronger earnings per share and lower net finance costs, a development the company linked to stricter cost management and improved capital efficiency. In response to the positive performance, the Board approved an interim dividend of N2.00 per share, amounting to approximately N4.38 billion.
Despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment marked by inflationary pressures and exchange rate volatility, Guinness Nigeria said disciplined execution and a stronger balance sheet helped cushion the impact on operations.
Sharma disclosed that the company’s turnaround strategy was built around four major pillars introduced after he assumed leadership.
“From a strategy perspective, I spent the first 100 days drawing the blueprint,” he explained. “At the end of it, we actually broke the strategy into four pillars. First was culture; we needed to make people feel more empowered, more than anything else. Second was operational excellence by localising what we do; we wanted to achieve more efficiency with this.”
He said consumer-focused innovation also became a central part of the company’s transformation agenda.
“Thirdly, we are very obsessed with the consumers, so we had them at the centre of our strategy – we took out a few products and became a lot more innovative in adding some. And finally, is the financial performance,” Sharma stated.
The CEO further revealed that the company’s product and pricing strategies are increasingly being shaped by the realities of Nigeria’s rising cost of living, with consumers demanding more affordable and flexible options.
As part of that strategy, Guinness Nigeria recently introduced Orijin Beer in PET packaging, a move aimed at offering consumers more accessible product formats while maintaining brand appeal.
Looking ahead, Sharma identified ready-to-drink beverages, mainstream spirits, beer, and malt drinks as major growth segments the company intends to explore over the next few years.
“Consumer tastes are evolving quickly,” he said, “and our job is to stay close to those shifts and respond with the right products.”