Cadbury Nigeria Plc, said on Thursday that it recorded a net loss of N842m in the first nine months of 2016 ending 30 September. In the same period in 2015, the company made a profit of N29m.

The maker of Bournvita has come under pressure on multiple fronts in a slowing economy that has seen inflation spike to 17.9% as of September, made worse by the June 20 naira devaluation which has made borrowing costs more expensive, reflected in higher cost of goods sold. And as with most FMCG companies in the country, obtaining foreign exchange to buy needed raw materials continues to pose a challenge. Compounding the problem for the firm is a weakened consumer purchasing power and competition from rivals in the market. The losses reached N1bn in the third quarter (July – September).