Carlsberg Malawi sales slump

Carlsberg Malawi says its sales have gone down this festive season due to the devaluation of the kwacha which has eroded people’s disposable incomes.

Carlsberg Malawi chief executive officer Abel Chanje said this on the sidelines of the company’s long-serving award ceremony in Blantyre on Saturday.

“During the same period last year, people were scrambling for drinks, but this year, no one is queuing for drinks, showing low demand out there.

“Talking to our colleagues in the distribution chain, they tell us that it is the economic situation that is affecting our sales,” he said.

Chanje, however, said the company has enough stocks for the festive season.

He urged consumers not to keep empty bottles at home, saying this may disrupt production as their machines require a specific number of bottles to run.

Chanje said the company will next year set up a bottling plant in Lilongwe and that plans are in the pipeline to start exporting some of their products to Mozambique to help the country earn foreign exchange.

On long-service awards, Chanje said the accolades will be phased out next year and instead they will start running excellence awards which target all employees regardless of the number of years one has worked with the company.

Carlsberg Malawi gave out a month’s salary equivalent and a rice cooker to employees who have worked for the company for over 15 years.