IDL: From One Product Company To World Class Spirits,Wine and Drinks

 

 

 

 By Daniel Olushola Michael 

Globalreport.com.ng

"The heights at which great people reach and Attained are not gotten by a sudden flight but while their contemporaries sleeps,they keep Toiling through the Night "

 Less cannot be adopted in describing the dominance and relevant roles played in the spirits, wine and quality drinks manufacturing in Nigeria and West Africa of Intercontinental Distilleries Limited (IDL).

The company which started off by two Italians with names,Justerini and Brooks (J&B) in 1749 as wine and spirits business ventures. 

Though,it changes ownership in acquisition until it became the then International Distillers &Vintners (IDV), IDV itself as at then was just a Spirit division of mother company Grand Metropolitan Plc of the United Kingdom. 

 

To attracts International products acceptance,GM PLC gave in to Incorporation and Metamorphosed to International Distillers Limited (IDNL). in 1983.
 

"The journey of a thousands Miles begins with a step" So says an adage. In 1984, IDNL Started production of their single- product line the world-Class Eagle Aromatic Schnapps on a manual line with staff strenght of 53 but a quality and bunch of committed and dedicated workers who despises no little beginning among these were 3 expatriates.

 

The Arrival of Eagle Aromatic Schnapps to Nigerian market was like a bomb intonated at the right time,whose blast covers the targeted territories, buyers now choicely use it as their events' custodian hence Elders enjoys praying with it in all their traditional and social gatherings.

 

Records still have it how Eagle Aromatic Schnapps became the Revered Bride of festivals and Carnivals in Nigeria and beyond,a feat which the Schnapps still sustains and enjoys hitherto.
Glowing the path of the global vision of the management team,the company began importation and marketing of some Foriegn products such as Smirnoff, Bailey's, Irish-cream and Gilbeys London Dry Gin to further complement the successful acceptance of Eagle schnapps to Nigerian market.

 

Hence other successful quality products were ascribed to IDNL at this point the company commences expansion that translated into National product popularity which berthed the name of the products Of Western Nigerian States ascribed and adopted alternatively to describe the company "Chelsea" Chelsea came as a unique product that spark up life to the already market steamed  products manufactured by IDNL. 

 

Chelsea London Dry Gin was officially Launched and introduced to Nigeria market in 1987.
 Chelsea gin continue to enjoy wider waves of unrivalled market share,the pragmatic, proactive management  team labours more on the deliberation table to project new innovations for the organisation part of which berthed new name from International Distillers Nigeria Limited (IDNL) to Intercontinental Distilleries Limited (IDL).

 

A step taken to broaden global vision of spirits,wine beverage production dominance in Nigeria and West Africa. It was around this period the management and board Mantle graduated out of the expatriates to the hands of full fledge Nigerian management board. Thanks to the quality Board and management team championing the leadership affairs of IDL hitherto.

The IDL magic Wand

 The intercontinental Distillery Limited success in dominance of manufacturing of world-Class products would be inexhaustible jumping series of approaches undertaken to sustain high market shares in sub-saharan Africa without mention of the qualitative appointment of Engineer Chief Patrick Anegbe as the managing Director,the man Savvy with an unusual prudency in machinery manouvres Cum human relations management,though, Engineer Anegbe grew through the ladder of Engineering but resolves to see through the Radar of successful organisation management and sustainability. 

Engineer Anegbe's prudency is also explored in financial areas, an insider made it known to globalreport news about his wise counsels to staff and employees alike, cited an event when a young newly employed manager several years ago was cautioned never to waste fund buying a new car while he has an official car from the company to his credit, another gesture rare in the breeds at top management level.

The company now produces world-class Spirits,Wines and drinks like : Eagle Aromatic Schnapps,Chelsea London Dry Gin,Bull London Dry Gin, Squadron Dark Rum,Bull Dark Rum,DeRokb Cafe Liqueur, Action Bitters,DeRok Chocolate Flavor Liqueur, Commodore Aromatic Schnapps,Chapeau Wine,Veleta Fruits Drink,Confam Bitters and Teezers drink.

For any product to attracts world stage pedigree,acquittances with world-class machineries and manpower of human resources is Paramount.

 IDL Management under indefatigable Managing Director, Engineer Patrick Anegbe has from outset adopted Policy of  backward Integration by investing in human Resources and Personnels that without any iota of doubt has proven testimonies of high performances within the Organisation, While seasoned professional are employed to take the company to higher ground lots of pioneer staff emerged to become a force to recon with.

 One of the  first steps taken was to acquire modern machineries for production and quality investments in the product incubation room called " the Quality Assurance department headed by World-class professionals where Research and Development sub-unit is tirelessly daily saturated with researches into other world and classic products part of which are products testimonies that has Churn out products that became household names in the spirits and wine beverages market in Nigeria and West Africa.

In no long time of production of quality drinks has the glow of IDL beam to the National Quality sustainance organization that Standard Organisation of Nigeria certified the company with NIS ISO 9001:2015 in 2017, the recognition is  in tandem with calibers of high profiled  board of Directors and management IDL is made up of that immensely contributed to the success story of the company.

While Giants were raised and bred along rungs of departmental leadership, IDL Marketing department came out with arrays of marketing initiatives via series of Brand managers qualitative strategies that further shots their products into the hearts of many in knooks and Crannies of Nigeria and West African sub-region.

CSR PROJECTS
Intercontinental Distillery Limited is been known for Community Social Responsibility for decades of operations especially within Lagos and Ogun state. 

One significant attraction you get while visiting or around any Royal Palaces is their Eagle Aromatic Schnapps paintings on Walls of King Palaces. They have been a supportive forces behind virtually local festivals around the states. 

Testimonies abound on presence of arrays of their products at public events,an indication that IDL products are closer to you than you think hence they find their ways via distribution network to everyone's locality.

IDL methods of giving back to the society is second to none, employment of local indigenes and residents in their locality is priotised in such that staff and members of company testifies of quality welfare packages compares to other companies under the food and Beverages companies in the state.

Community social responsibility from IDL is obvious in communities where they have sunk Bore-holes to make portable water available for the people. Significant was the role played by the company during Covid-19 National lockdown in the State. Aside the massive consumables support provided to Ogun and Lagos State respectively,the communities around the Ota factory recieves quality provisions of food Items that helps succoured the hunger-effects of the Lockdown on the communities under close monitoring of The General Manager, Plant. Chief Adesina Adegoke where encomiums were showered on the company for the generousity of the needed edible materials at the right time.

Education supports like Schorlaship awards were given to deserving students/pupil in the town. The company as well has shown constant support for Security Personnels in the town through provisions and distributions of Patrol vehicles for men of the Nigeria Police Force, a step that has further improved the security architecture of living without fear and terrors.

IDL team has everly partook of festivals around Ota and Ogun state to add colours to celebrate the ancient dieties and communities as a whole.

To mention but a few of festival coverage of IDL in Ogun state, you meet them at Ojude-Oba at Ijebu, Iganmode-day of Ota-Awori, IDL presence always unavoidably felt at Lisabi-day at Egba Abeokuta and others.

PRODUCT TESTIMONIES

While Eagle Aromatic Schnapps from inception decades ago saturated itself with abounding testimonies from customers and distributors inclusive,every viable festivals is usually local,and as such you always find Eagle Schnapps as an unavoidable tool that Herald prayers and wishes for our traditional abides.
Action Bitters from testimonies though not yet scientifically proven by recognised authority, is a "multipurpose product" according to Madam Funke Akinjobi who claims the product help stop her
Menstrual-Circle Pains anytime is taken, some men including Pa Frederick James and Mufutau Pariola who both confesses Action Bitters is good for enjoyment and back-Ache remedy were few of many who choicely patronize IDL products.
IDL products in the categories of Gin, Schnapps,herbal products,non alchoholic drinks and others are still massively
Enjoying lion share in categories of Spirits Wine and beverages in Nigeria and West African market.

Veleta Party is always "party after party"awashed with  celebrations of events like, Weddings,Namings,house-warmings celebrations and individual personalty merryment for merry-makers.