Champion Breweries acquires Bullet

Nigeria’s Champion Breweries has acquired ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic and energy brand Bullet from Sun Mark International.

The deal, which is still pending regulatory approval, will expand Champion Breweries’ portfolio across the energy drink category and follows the Nigerian brewer recently revealing a solid set of plans for its future expansion.

Bullet already has strong market presence across 14 African countries and will assist in helping Champion Breweries leverage the energy brand’s global reach.

The deal will involve Champion Breweries purchasing all of Bullet’s brand assets and intellectual property from Sun Mark. Once the acquisition has gone through, the brand is set to be held under a new Netherlands-based entity.

Champion Breweries has revealed that it will take a majority interest, while Belgian majority shareholder of Sun Mark Vinar NV will continue to own a minority stake.

Bullet will join other Champion Breweries-owned brands such as Champ Malt and Champion Lager in the company’s portfolio. Champion Breweries has additionally claimed that the deal will increase its foreign exchange profits.

Speaking about the acquisition, Champion Breweries managing director Dr Inalegwu Adoga said in a statement: “With nearly five decades of brewing heritage since its incorporation in 1974 and as a publicly listed company on the Nigerian Exchange, Champion Breweries brings a track record of trust, quality, and market resilience to this landmark acquisition. Bullet is an established leader in the RTD and energy drink segment in Nigeria, with its flagship product, Bullet Black, enjoying independent market leadership. The brand’s reach spans over 14 African countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, and Tanzania. Notably, the Bullet transaction will significantly enhance Champion Breweries’ foreign exchange earnings, further strengthening Champion Breweries’ financial stability.”

Adoga explained: “Bullet’s caffeine-free formulation distinguishes it in the energy drink category, targeting the fast-growing segment of consumers seeking healthier, non-caffeinated functional beverages.”

Champion Breweries chairman Imo-Abasi Jacob added: “We will expand our portfolio to include high-growth categories with strong consumer demand. Bullet’s international footprint and brand strength perfectly align with our vision for sustainable growth and market leadership.”

EnjoyCorp managing director David Butler admitted that Bullet has “tremendous potential as a truly global African brand. With its strong position in key markets and significant headroom for expansion, we will be poised to accelerate growth through new product launches, market entries, and strategic synergies across our operations, working with existing partners and strengthening the distribution reach of all products in our range.”

Related news

East Coast Canning partners with Meadow

Sunrise invests £100,000 into Curious Brewery

Sierra Nevada's Celly Drippins pours in the UK for the first time