Strategic partnership unveils Ikoyi Chapmans for pan-African expansion

Partnership formalised in Lagos

A new premium ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverage, Ikoyi Chapmans, is set to enter the Nigerian market ahead of a broader African rollout after its promoters unveiled a strategic partnership with CAADES Group.

The partnership was formalised on Saturday during a trade and investment agreement signing ceremony at the headquarters of CAADES Group in Lekki, Lagos. Business leaders, investors, industry stakeholders and members of the media attended the event to witness the launch of the venture.

Ambition to build a global Nigerian brand

Chairman of CAADES Group and strategic partner in the project, Dr. Chima Anyaso, said the initiative followed several years of planning aimed at taking one of Nigeria's most recognisable beverages into mainstream commercial production. He said the partnership is intended to transform the drink into a globally recognised consumer brand.

According to Dr. Anyaso, the project goes beyond commercialisation. He said the promoters want to use the brand to promote Nigerian culture while building a world-class African beverage company.

He also commended Mike Robinson and Garry Robinson, British entrepreneurs who were born and partly raised in Nigeria, saying their childhood experiences helped inspire the concept behind the beverage. Dr. Anyaso said the brothers developed a lifelong appreciation for the traditional Nigerian Chapman and remained committed to reshaping Africa's beverage industry through innovation, quality and strategic partnerships.

The partnership represents the culmination of years of planning aimed at transforming one of Nigeria's most iconic beverages into a globally recognised consumer brand,

Our vision is to make Ikoyi Chapmans a household name across Africa by offering consumers a refreshing beverage that evokes cherished memories while celebrating the richness of the Nigerian experience,

Robinson brothers trace the brand's inspiration

Mike Robinson said nostalgia and a desire to preserve one of Nigeria's distinctive beverage traditions motivated the project. He said his family's time in Nigeria left a lasting connection to Chapman, which later became the foundation for a commercial venture with his brother, Garry Robinson.

Robinson said the idea survived even after both brothers left school and became professional squash players. Over the years, he said, they approached several beverage companies, but many showed more interest in energy drinks and conventional fruit drinks than in a product with Chapman's flavour profile and heritage.

Following years of product development, the brothers secured a manufacturing partnership and launched the beverage under the Ikoyi Chapmans brand.

Our parents had a wonderful experience living in Nigeria, and as children growing up here, Chapman became one of those unforgettable drinks that stayed with us throughout our lives,

Distribution and expansion plans

The company said the product is already available in selected bars and hospitality outlets in the United Kingdom. It added that plans are in place for widespread retail distribution across Nigeria before moving into other African markets.

Also speaking, Dr. Efosa Ogbeide, a core partner in the project, said plans for a comprehensive pan-African distribution strategy had been concluded. He said the beverage would become available in supermarkets, retail outlets, hospitality establishments and neighbourhood stores across Nigeria within weeks.

According to Dr. Ogbeide, preparations are also underway for a nationwide consumer launch featuring product activations, experiential marketing campaigns, signature serving rituals and innovative cocktail recipes to showcase the versatility of the beverage. He added that additional stock-keeping units, SKUs, are already under development to meet the preferences of different consumer segments across Africa.

Chapman has remained a household name in Nigeria for decades. Ikoyi Chapmans will redefine how consumers enjoy this iconic beverage by delivering a premium ready-to-drink experience suitable for multiple consumption occasions, whether enjoyed on its own or as the perfect base for cocktails,

Origins and product profile

The promoters said the story of Ikoyi Chapmans traces its roots to the late 1960s at the prestigious Ikoyi Club in Lagos, where the original Chapman was first created by a bartender. They described the new offering as a premium sparkling citrus-flavoured drink blended with natural bitters to deliver the distinctive taste associated with Nigeria's iconic Chapman.

The company also said the beverage is produced without artificial colours or preservatives. It said the drink is gluten-free, vegan-friendly and suitable for consumption on its own or as a base for a variety of cocktails.