Banjul Breweries Limited last Friday celebrated in grand style the recent award conferred on them as the Manufacturer of The Year 2009, by the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
This is said to be the first time in the history of the company in 30 years to win this prestigious award.
Speaking at the occasion, Fatou Sinyan-Mbergan, the Financial Controller of Banjul Breweries commended the government under the able leadership of President Yahya Jammeh for creating the enabling environment for manufacturing companies to flourish and grow. She said that this goes to show how far they have journeyed as a company, employees and as a team.
She read a congratulatory message by Mr. Martignac, the Chairman of the Board Directors as saying "this achievement was a clear recognition of your endless efforts to further develop Banjul Breweries beverages all over the country."
Mrs. Sinyan Mergan further expressed her team’s readiness to keep up the momentum and get ready for the race to win the 2010 award. She assured that they would continue to produce high quality products at economic rates and to be a leading corporate citizen to government, public, employees and shareholders.
She revealed that in 2009, they made the extension of the beverage brands from three soft drinks: Malta, Cocktail and Vimto to nine by the introduction of the Youki brand, namely Youki Grapefruit, Pineapple, Orange, Cola, Lemonade and Soda.
According to her, the company in the same year had witnessed a transformation of the brewery from 30 years bottling line with a capacity of only 8, 500 bottles per hour to a state of the art new bottling line with a capacity of between 30, 000 to 40, 000 bottles per hour.
She stated that their shareholders had made a total capital investment of D190m in order to expand, as well as to improve their efficiency.
As part of their corporate social responsibilities, she said, the company has in recent past donated handsomely in sectors like education, health, agriculture and sports. This tradition, she added, will also continue in the year 2010.
She also commended their esteemed customers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, shareholders, and consumers for their continuous partnership and patronage.
Also, speaking at the ceremony, the out going Country Sales and Marketing Manager, Mr. Thibault de Laplagnolle said they hoped to achieve more as a company in the near future. He thanked the Board of Directors and management, retailers, wholesalers for their relentless support.
According to him, the award came as a result of their hardwork and commitment to duties.
For his part, the incoming Country Sales and Marketing Manager Mr. Franck Boeut said by putting hands together, they would indeed go far to develop as a stronger family of the Youki product of the generation.
