As part of efforts to reduce loss of products occasioned by incessant broken bottles, the management of Eastern central region of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), bottler of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprint says it requires about N10 billion to replace empty cases of old bottles with the new ultra-glass bottle.
BusinessDay reports that the amount would be spent across the states that made up the Eastern region of the company.
The Eastern states, which has Benin City, Edo State, as its headquarters, cover Delta State, Benue State, Anambra State, Kogi State, Enugu State, and some parts of Taraba State.
Tunji Akinseesin, regional commercial director, NBC, gave the hint at the introduction of the new ultra Coca-Cola glass bottle to distributors and members of the general public in Benin City.
About 3 million empty cases are expected to be changed to the new ultra bottles in Edo State and some part of Delta State, especially Warri, in the first phase with about N3 billion, Akinseesin said, noting that about N10 billion would be expended to replace about 10 million empty cases of old bottles in the entire Eastern region before the end of the year.
According to him, as I explained during the unveiling ceremony, ultra glass is to replace the old regular glass that we have in trade. If you are familiar with our business, people are complaining that they have recorded a lot of breakage from the old regular glass bottle, and at times it will explode.
“The financial cost of the breakages of the old bottle to the company is huge. When you are changing an old item in your house you are sure and prepare to spend a lot of money. In the first phase, we are estimating to change about 3 million empty cases but as at today we sell a case to distributor for about N870.00, as against N1000 because the company is subsidising it for the customers.
“For the first phase exercise, which is only just for Edo and Warri in Delta, not the entire Delta State because we are not going to Asaba for now, we are expecting to replace about 3 million cases of Coke, Fanta and Sprint 35 CL with about N3 billion, while for the entire Eastern region about N10 billion is expected to be spent to phase out about 10 millions old empty cases with the new ultra glass bottles,” he said.
The ultra glass bottle, which was first introduced in the country in 2008, has been launched in Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna states, respectively, Akinseesin said, adding that the new glass bottle, which is eco- friendly, requires about 14 percent less raw materials and energy to produce, and also reduces stress on trucks and roads during transportation of products.
Its light weight offers a longer life-span in trade because it is tougher, 40 percent more durable and less vulnerable to breakage and scuffing compared with the regular glass bottle, he said.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH
