Market-leading companies are continually monitoring customer attitude and requirements. To achieve this, businesses oftentimes invest heavily in market research, which helps them acquire clear ideas of consumers’ opinions and trends.
These surveys also help companies keep in touch with an ever-changing environment in which social attitudes and buying patterns are continually shifting.
The end result of this process is that, liaising closely with the company’s product developers and technologists, researchers facilitate products that meet market needs.
This approach towards satisfying customers is important because: “Customers want what they want, when they want it, at a price they want to pay; and if you can’t provide it, they’ll just go someplace else,” said Carol Ptak, a partner at the Demand Driven Institute (DDI) based in Rochester, Washington, USA.
Furthermore: “The companies that are implementing demand-driven manufacturing are not just marginally better than companies that aren’t, they are several orders of magnitude better,” Ptak added.
However, despite the many benefits that being demand-driven holds for businesses, only a few in Nigeria, like UAC Foods Limited, manufacturers of Gala, which has held the number one position in the sausage roll category since 1962, have adopted this approach and integrated same in their operations.
It is in line with this policy that the joint venture company, recently unveiled “Gala Mega,” a new addition to its rich basketful of snacks offerings.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at its Ojota, Lagos, office recently, the General Manager, Marketing, Mrs. Joan Ihekwaba, said it was a product of direct response to the yearnings and desires of Gala consumers for a more filling snack to keep them going as they achieve their daily goals.
She said, having pioneered the sausage roll market way back in 1962, Gala sausage roll has kept faith with Nigerians by holding the N50 price point for 10 years and with the new offering, which will in no way hamper the availability of the regular Gala roll at its N50 retail price, UAC Foods is once again setting the pace in the industry with a new pack size.
“For over five decades, the Gala brand has believed in and identified with the Nigerian story, a story of perseverance, strong will and a passion that never gives up. Today, the launch of Gala Mega is the reassurance of our commitment to ‘keep you going,’ a stronger devotion to walk you through your success story.
“The new brand is an addition to existing variants of the Gala brand, which includes regular Gala Sausage Roll, Mini Gala, Gala Chicken and Gala Cocktail. The regular Gala Sausage Roll is still available at N50,” she said.
Gala Mega, as the name implies, is a larger sausage roll with the same Gala taste, but in a bigger, meatier and more filling size to meet the yearnings of consumers who want to be easily filled on a friendly budget.
UAC Foods Limited is a joint venture business between UAC of Nigeria Plc. (a leading indigenous conglomerate in Nigeria) and Tiger Brands Limited (A South African food giant).
The business is committed to quality products and is into the production of brands in the snacks, dairies and beverage categories.
Management FasTrack set to promote best workplace attitudes
In his resolve to promote positive workplace attitudes that build excellent business managers at all levels, Oladapo Akinloye, a management and development expert with over 16 years’ experience, has launched a book titled Management FasTrack into Nigerian market.
The book launch and signing event, which took place at the premises of Laterna Ventures in Victoria Island, Lagos, was a gathering of business experts. Some of the guests in attendance were Managing Director (Geocycle Projects) Lafarge Plc, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, Human Resources Partner, Mrs. Mosun Enilolobo, Mrs. Ngozi Adebiyi, Lead Consultant, OutsideIn HR, Mr. Nathaniel Shofarasin, head of customer service, Lafarge, directors and senior managers of various sectors.
Speaking at the event, Akinloye, the author, disclosed that the book was designed as a compendium of workplace best practices and attitudes that could give an edge to those who sincerely want to be excellent managers.
He also added that Management FasTrack was a perfect reference material for experienced and upcoming managers alike; for the experienced player, Akinloye explained that the book serves as a quick reminder of what it takes to be a quality leader besides providing support for the mentorship of young and upcoming leaders. This special package for upcoming managers, who desire guidance on proper workplace attitudes and values to excel, unveils Management FasTrack as a perfect guide to a successful career path in any organisation.
The author, who has been actively involved in people management and development for over 16 years in different sectors like manufacturing, sales and consulting, also observed that many business players desire accelerated development in the workplace but do not have the appropriate attitude to support it, while a number of them simply do not know how to make it right. This, he said, motivated him to make the book an easy read, garnished with important tips on best workplace practices and attitudes.
One of the reviewers of the book, Mrs. Fidelia Osime, Country Organisation & Human Resources Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, commented that Management FasTrack was a simple but highly instructive reference tool for entry level and experienced managers who truly desire to win in their careers through hard work and dedication to the tenets of management. Her words: “This is a book loaded with nuggets for those who want to fast-track their growth of knowledge, intuitiveness and initiative in the workplace. It is a compendium of the A to Z of what a manager must know if he must succeed”.
Another analyst, Olufunke Akinloye, commented that, “Management FasTrack is an amazing book that is packed with a collection of effective guidelines on getting through everyday work life. It is useful to spur oneself on for continuous development in order to constantly achieve great results either as an individual or as a team. It is also fascinating to have access to notable quotes from various great leaders/thinkers through this book.”
One of the reviewers at the event, Tina Shobola, Trade Marketing and Brand Manager, Lafarge Africa Plc, stated that the depth of research gave reference to African environment as well as the global circle, which cut across different ages of renowned writers to bring the best ideas sharable for everyone at any level of his/her career to understand the tricks behind being a successful manager of people and resources.
The book, which addresses management essentials with practical tips and insights for all managers, is published by KVR Publishing and is currently available at Laterna Bookstore, soon to be available at all bookstores nationwide.