Nestle Ghana has honoured over 300 retail and sub-wholesale dealers in Nestle products in the Eastern and Volta regions for staying loyal to the Nestle brand. Cash prizes of GhS800, GhS3,000, GhS30,000, GhS50,000 and five refrigerators were awarded to 15 exceptional promotion winners during the third edition of the Nestle Loyal Engagement in Koforidua. Sub-wholesalers and retailers who attended the event were educated on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Code and the Ghana L.I. 1667, which regulated the marketing of breast milk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats. Ms Grace Dzifa Wornyoh, the Eastern-Volta Medical Delegate of Nestle Ghana, said the WHO code prohibited the advertisement of breast milk substitutes such as SMA, NAN, and Lactogen. That was because breastmilk remained the best food to feed babies from zero to six months as the WHO advocated, since it contained the essential nutrients, which aided the proper growth of babies under six months. Therefore, she said not advertising, promoting and sponsoring baby food shows would contribute to encouraging lactating mothers to breastfeed their babies till six months, except in special cases. 'If a customer comes into your shop to purchase any baby formulae, do not demonstrate how to use it to him or her. Refer him or her to the hospital to see a paediatrician,' she advised. Mr Agyemang Duah, the Commercial Development Manager at Nestle Ghana, explained that the cash awards were to help the retailers and sub-wholesalers reinvest in their businesses. The loyalty engagement was also to interact and connect with the middlemen who helped to market and sell Nestle products. He encouraged retailers and sub-wholesalers to continue patronising Nestle products like Milo, Nido, Nescafe, Cerelac, Carnation Milk, Ideal Milk, and Maggi. Ms Ntim Abena Opoku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Theresa Enterprise at Nkawkaw, and the ultimate promo winner of the GhS50,000 cash prize, said the award indicated her hard work. 'This means that my hard work has paid off. One thing I think I do differently at my workplace is the way I communicate with my customers,' she said. 'I will continue to learn more and implement it in my shop to make greater achievements.' Ms Opoku described the cash received as huge and that she would invest part of the money in her business. She extended her heartfelt gratitude to Nestle Ghana for organising the event and providing a platform to recognise the contributions of retailers and sub-wholesalers and support their business expansion. Source : Ghana News Agency