Soda King set to launch into Nigerian market

Soda King, a South African-based franchise company, has concluding plans to launch into the Nigeria market with a range of carbonated soft drinks, as well as premium, sparkling and flavoured Aqua King water variants.

Henry Mgbojikwe, chairman/chief executive officer, Soda King Nigeria, disclosed this to BusinessDay recently.

He said the company is putting finishing touches to its plans to accelerate the move into the Nigerian market.

“We are coming into the Nigerian market with over fifteen variants of carbonated soft drinks including King Malta. With every bottle of King Malta, you get all the goodness of malt without the alcohol. King Malta combines the rich goodness of roasted barley malt combined with purified carbonated water to give a taste experience that is unique, full and satisfying,” Mgbojikwe said.

“It’s a filling, natural energy drink for the whole family, with proteins and amino acids for nutrition and the immune system, maltose for energy, vitamin B for strong muscles, carbohydrates for power and endurance, dextrin for energy reserves and magnesium and calcium for strong bones,” he said.

According to Mgbojikwe, King Malta actively reduces stress levels, improves hair, nails, skin, digestion, all-round performance for men, women, children, students and older people.

Coming into Nigeria’s highly competitive market, Soda King Nigeria said it will introduce range of uncommon products. The company is optimist that it will take its share of the large Nigerian market of over seventy million people.

Among the products and flavours the company is bringing into the market include King Malta, Apple Soroya; and carbonated drinks like King Cola, Orange, Pineapple, Red Grape, Strawberry, Ginger Beer, Lemonade and Apple.

Others are flavoured water drinks like Lime and Lemon; while the juice is coming in the trademark of JOOS with five varieties which include Apple, Tropical, Mango, Guava and Orange.

JOOS represents an exciting new concept in fruit juice production with its range of 100% fruit juices produced using a unique UV-light treatment that allows for the product to be kept at ambient temperature of less than 37 degree Celsius for a period of 3 months. This means no refrigeration, no cold-chain, and no need to keep the juices in a cooler at all times.

For retailers, caterers, hotels, restaurants and bars this means the ability to buy in bulk and save, while storing the juice in their un-refrigerated warehouse. The funky JOOS label is distinctive, clear and has an innovative “JOOSY FACTS” bubble to inform consumers of the other available flavours.

The Soda King brand was established in 1997, with the following of the Aqua King label in 2004. There are currently eight individual Soda King Franchises, of which four are in South Africa and the other four in Swaziland, Zambia Madagascar and Nigeria respectively. The aim is to expand the brand coverage across Africa within the next five years the company.

CHIGOZIE EGWUATU