SP Brewery’s business up by 30pc in first quarter: Exec

BUSINESS volumes for SP (South Pacific) Brewery Ltd increased by approximately 30 per cent in the first quarter of the year, says managing director Ed Weggemans.
Weggemans told The National that this was result of a couple of factors such as the general election preparations and increase in global agricultural commodity prices, giving spending power to those individuals who were involved in the production of commodities such as coffee, palm oil, vanilla.
He said the company did, however, expect that liquor bans imposed in some parts of the country during the election period to have significant impact on their business.
“Our business is ahead of last year in the first quarter,” Weggemans said.
“Last year, we had trading restrictions from the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“This year, some of those restrictions have been lifted, which is positive even though some of them are still in place like the Friday – Saturday trading ban which is still in place in National Capital District.
“We are also benefiting from some of the activities around elections such as campaigning from the candidates in their constituencies and that’s also generating some business for us.
“Another thing that is of positive influence is the global pricing for agricultural commodities like coffee and palm oil and other things like that. The extra income that people are getting from that is also helping with people’s spending power and that is benefiting us as well.”