By Cynthia Igbokwe, Mobile Correspondent
Tension is mounting around Champion Breweries Plc as transport contractors working with the company have accused the management and Board of Directors of allegedly neglecting their welfare, frustrating their operations, and impoverishing long-time logistics partners through what they described as unfair and non-transparent business practices.
The aggrieved transporters, under the umbrella of Champion Brewery Transporters, made the allegations in a communiqué issued after an extraordinary meeting held on April 30, 2026, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, following what they described as years of unresolved concerns and ignored appeals to the company’s management.
The communiqué, obtained by journalists, was jointly signed by executives and representatives of different transport firms working with the brewery, including Anozie Valentine of De KonCaro Concepts; Ephraim Ekwenugo of Don Emmy Global Resources; Johnmary Anyaorah of Don Vianny Resources; John Okwuchukwu Alua of RAGEK Logistics Limited; Johnson Usang of JOEFUS Global Logistics Limited; Ubah Stanley Chinonso of Emmanuel Beverages Limited; alongside representatives of Konnberg and others.
The transporters alleged that despite years of partnership with the brewery, many of them have suffered severe financial setbacks, loss of trucks, operational frustrations, and worsening business conditions without meaningful intervention from the company.
According to them, one of the major concerns is the alleged outsourcing of logistics operations to individuals linked to members of the management and Board, a situation they described as a conflict of interest capable of undermining transparency and global best practices in corporate logistics operations.
They argued that major beverage companies globally, including The Coca-Cola Company, Nigerian Breweries and 7UP Bottling Company, operate transparent outsourcing systems that separate logistics operations from internal management interests.
The communiqué further alleged that some staff members or persons connected to the company currently own transport businesses while simultaneously influencing or supervising logistics operations within the brewery, a development the transporters insisted compromises accountability and fairness.
Beyond the outsourcing concerns, the transporters also lamented what they described as prolonged delays in truck offloading at distributor points, alleging that some trucks are sometimes held for up to two weeks without compensation for idle time or operational losses.
They maintained that such delays have continued to erode their profitability and operational sustainability, especially amid rising diesel prices, inflation, truck maintenance costs, and worsening economic realities in the country.
The contractors also accused the brewery of failing to review freight rates in line with current market conditions, noting that while the prices of brewery products have more than doubled over the years, transport charges have remained largely stagnant, with the last increment allegedly being just one percent over two years ago.
According to them, the situation has made it increasingly difficult for transporters to maintain their fleets or replace damaged trucks, despite years of service to the company.
To buttress their claims, the transporters presented what they described as a six-year performance review of some transport firms working with the brewery. According to the figures contained in the communiqué, some operators who previously owned over a dozen trucks have now been reduced to just a few functioning vehicles, while others have completely folded up.
One of the transport firms, Don Emmy Global Resources, was said to have started operations with 19 trucks but now has only three remaining. Another operator, Utvas, which allegedly started with 14 trucks, was said to have lost all its vehicles entirely.
The transporters also raised concerns over alleged irregular payment practices, accusing the company of abandoning earlier agreements for weekly payments and instead delaying payments for one or two months, thereby affecting their working capital and operational efficiency.
They further alleged lack of transparency in payment breakdowns, poor communication channels, arbitrary adjustments in AGO pricing, accounting discrepancies, double debits, and the absence of proper verification systems during product loading.
The communiqué also accused the company of failing to sustain agreed quarterly meetings with transporters, claiming that no formal engagement had been held in over two years despite repeated requests and earlier understandings between both parties.
The aggrieved transporters warned that continued neglect of their concerns could further strain their relationship with the company, while calling on the management to urgently address the issues and restore what they described as fairness, accountability, transparency, and mutual business growth.
They maintained that their demands were not intended to create hostility but to ensure a healthier and more sustainable partnership capable of benefiting both the brewery and its logistics partners.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Management of Champion Breweries Plc as of the time of filing this report proved abortive.
