UNILEVER UNVEILS GEISHA NEW LOOK AND VARIANTS

Kampala– Unilever Uganda Limited today has officially re-launched Geisha on a natural’s platform. Unveiling the product was Former UIA Chairperson Dr. Maggie Kigozi, Unilever Country Manager, George Inholo and Unilever Marketing Director East Africa Mr. James Kakachira.

The new geisha variants – Soothing Aloe Vera, Softening Rose, Invigorating Lemon and Moisturizing Coconut Oil – were launched at a colorful ceremony at the Sheraton Gardens in Kampala on Friday evening.

The re-launch was attended by traders, Unilever product suppliers and representatives of various media houses. The re-launch of the four variants has now positioned Geisha as a brand that cares of the family naturally. Geisha comes in four different variants with two pack sizes (250 gram and 125 gram) and a very attractive packaging.

In her remarks, Dr. Maggie Kigozi said “I commend Unilever for its efforts to raise awareness about health and engaging the business community to take an interest in their products. We must engage not only the consumers but the business community as well in the process and give them the knowledge to make a change from a financial perspective but also a change in their homes by providing natural products for their families.”

“Geisha has been in the Ugandan since 1994 with with their tag line, lasts and lasts like a mothers love”, a tag line that still resonates with the target audience” said Unilever Uganda Customer Marketing Manager Diana Nabukenya. She also added that “Geisha commands over 50% market share in Uganda.”

Natural ingredients have been tried and tested over time. Consumers can attest to the efficacy of natural ingredients in products in one way or the other. The properties of the natural ingredients can be summed up in one sentence ‘nature knows best’.

Consumer giant changes tack to maintain market leadership

Kenya: For the past twenty years in Kenya, Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) growth strategy has been to innovate and provide consumers with new products that are a class above their competitors.

However with increasing competition and changing consumer consumption habits, P&G is changing its tactics in a bid to significantly improve on its performance in the 2014 fiscal year.

The new strategy will see the company, which produces Pampers diapers, Always Sanitary pads, and Ariel detergent among others, focus on value creation, productivity, operation discipline and strategic investments will be the company’s focus areas as it builds on its fourth quarter results.

Locally, P&G will be up scaling its point of market entry activities through which they first introduce their products to Kenyan consumers. The company will also seek to strengthen and accelerate its productivity and costs savings efforts as a means of value creation to the end consumer.

“Our new tactics will ensure that we win when the consumer chooses our product at the shelf – and the second moment of truth – when the consumer uses the product at home and decides whether to buy it again.  Winning with consumers is a foundation of value creation,” said Ms. Irene Mwathi, Communications Manager.

According to a recent survey by Nielsen data conducted in Kenya, P&G is a market leader in most of the categories its products play in with its leadership brands Pampers and Always. In the diaper category, Pampers holds a 79 per cent market share ahead of its competitors Kimberly Clarks’ and InterConsumer brands.t. In the detergent category, Ariel holds a 23.8 per cent market share a few points behind Unilever’s Omo which has a 30.6 percent share while Always sanitary pads fights off competition from locally produced pads with a 59 per cent market lead.

The change in tactics were introduced with the coming of the ‘new’ P&G’s Chairman and CEO AG Lafley who is accredited for doubling sales and growing P&G’s portfolio of billion-dollar brands from 10 to 23 with a focus on consumer-driven innovation and consistent, reliable, sustainable growth during his tenure from 2000 to 2009.

Ms. Mwathi adds that the company will try and focus more on low and middle class Kenyans consumers with intentions of reallocating some of its savings to make strategic, focused investments in innovation and go-to-market capabilities which are two important sources of P&G’s competitive advantage.  

Last month, P&G announced its fourth quarter results which saw the company reported fiscal year 2013 diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations of $3.86, up 24 percent versus the prior year. Net sales were $84.2 billion, with the Central Eastern Europe Middle East & Africa contributing 15 per cent of the sales. The main sales came from the Fabric and Home care with 32 percent followed by Baby and Family care at 20 per cent of the global sales.

Nokia Lumia 925 now available across East Africa

Nokia has announced availability of the Nokia Lumia 925 across East Africa. The Nokia Lumia 925 introduces a metal design and showcases the latest PureView camera innovation, new features and third party applications c

oming to the Nokia Lumia range.

The Nokia Lumia 925 is available initially in black with an estimated retail price of:

Kenya – KES 51,500

Uganda – UGX 1,500,000

Tanzania – TZS 960,000

The Nokia Lumia 925 captures the best low light images and clearer, sharper video thanks to the most advanced lens technology and next generation imaging software. The Nokia Lumia 925 features the Nokia Smart Camera app, offering an easy way to capture ten images at once and edit the pictures anytime afterwards with options like Best Shot and Action Shot.

With an aluminium frame around the 4.5 inch display, the Nokia Lumia 925 offers unique benefits like increased robustness. A wireless charging cover, which will shortly also be available for purchase in country, comes in white, black, yellow, and red can be clipped onto the back of the phone to take advantage of Nokia’s extensive wireless charging accessories and ecosystem.

An additional feature now available for Lumia smartphones is the Nokia Glance Screen introducing the standby screen clock. Now, with a quick look and without pushing any buttons, owners can see the time or the battery level indicator on the screen when the phone is not used. A double tap on the standby screen now wakes the phone up, making it easier to unlock.

The suite of integrated location and navigation services include HERE Drive+ and HERE Maps. Additionally, HERE Maps with augmented reality view is available in the Store for download.

“We continue to build on the Nokia Lumia portfolio at every price point across East Africa,” says Bruce Howe, General Manager for Nokia East Africa. “The Nokia Lumia 925 is a beautiful high end smartphone, offering amazing imaging technology and applications. It will provide more of the premium experiences that consumers have come to love and expect from Nokia Lumia smartphones.”

PROCTER & GAMBLE LAUNCHES PREMIUM SANITARY PAD IN KENYA

-          Product introduction aligned with Kenyan consumers changing lifestyle -

Nairobi– Procter & Gamble (P&G) has today launched the premium range of its sanitary pads, Always Platinum, in a bid to align its portfolio of products to the new lifestyle of its Kenyan consumers.

Designed with attention to beautiful detail and superior comfort in mind, Always Platinum not only provides the best Always protection, but both the pads and liners also have a luxuriously silk-like soft and dry top sheet.

Always Brand Manager Ms. Victoria Kieti-Chesire said that the brands designers have been researching the everyday things that please women, providing the sort of attention to detail that inspires a feeling of confidence, luxurious comfort and being cared for with a beautiful, intricate design. 

“Always Platinum comes to deliver a combination of best softness and dryness, most comfortable protection ever, with the luxurious sensation of silk against your skin. It strives to delight women by giving them what they really want,” said Ms. Chesire.

The Always sanitary pads are among P&G’s flagship brands in Kenya and are marking its 20th anniversary in the market with a commitment to feminine health, market development and corporate social responsibility. Currently, Always is the market leader in the sanitary towels segment commanding 64 per cent market share, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen. The company continues to have its sights on maintaining and growing the market leadership position through investing more resources in the sanitary towel segment and focusing on growing markets, improving mix, localizing production, and leveraging scale.

Ms. Chesire noted that as Kenya moves from one income status to another so does the lifestyle of its population hence the need to develop products to fit the new lifestyle of its consumer. We are adapting our portfolio of products to be suited for the ever changing middle-income consumer,” said Ms. Mwathi.

One aspect of the sanitary pad found only in the Always Platinum pads is the new core which features a super-absorbent gel that works instantly to lock in fluid, leaving the upper layers dry and luxuriously soft like silk. And unlike most ordinary pads, the unique Always Instant Dry™ technology immediately wicks fluid right through into the core of the pad, leaving the new silk-touch top sheet feeling instantly dry and silky.

Always has in the last 20 years built a formidable base of loyal consumers and market confidence by reaffirming its commitment to innovation and market development for its feminine care brand in the East African region.

“Our relentless focus on developing and launching new break-through products in the market has set new standards for the sanitary pads category and we will strive to keep Always as the innovation leader in the industry’ said Ms. Chesire.

ROBERTO DI MATTEO SCHEDULED FOR UGANDA TOUR

….as Guinness launches exciting campaign in Uganda

Kampala: – The former Chelsea FC manager, Roberto di Matteo famed for leading the English premiership side to their first UEFA Champions league title is set to make an exclusive announcement in Uganda on 13^th August, 2013 as GUINNESS continues to deliver amazing football experiences.

The Italian footballer and Champions League winning manager will be right here in Uganda for the launch of a brand new GUINNESS football campaign that is set to excite fans across the nation day of soccer activities with football stakeholders in Uganda.

“We are extremely excited to be hosting such an esteemed and great icon in the world of football and as Guinness, we are proud to be associated with a man who through his achievements is truly made of more, just like the brand,” Mark Mugisha, Marketing Manager, Uganda Breweries Limited.

He has been capped 34 times for his country, and the midfielder has played for various teams across Europe before becoming a manager, most famously at Chelsea, where he led the team to their first UEFA Champions League win in 2012 for the first time in the club’s history. 

“We can’t wait to announce what we have in store for Di Matteo and GUINNESS over the forthcoming months. Guinness is underlining its commitment to football in Uganda through a bold, challenging, distinctive, entertaining and inspiring platform that will require all football lovers to demonstrate that they are Made of More,” added Mark Mugisha.

Tuesday, 13^th August, 2013 will mark a historic day for Uganda and the entire East Africa football fraternity. 

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