(Business in Cameroon) - First company listed on the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX), the country’s stock market, the Société des Eaux Minérales du Cameroun (SEMC) had a 2015 net result of FCfa 164 million, we officially learned. This performance is in decrease by almost 40%, compared to the net profit of FCfa 261.9 million taken in at the end of 2014.

However, this is the second time within 4 years that this subsidiary of the Société Anonyme des Brasseries du Cameroun posts a net profit, after the losses registered successively in 2012 (- FCfa 50 million) and 2013 (- FCfa 319 million), due to the ever increasing competition observed on the local market for mineral waters.

Moreover, after Semme Minerals Water and Source du pays (“Supermont” mineral water and “Planète” fruit juice), two local companies who have taken away significant market shares (11% as at end June 2013) from SEMC (Source Tangui) over the past five years, the mineral water market leader must now also contend with NABCO among others.

Owned by billionaire Nana Bouba, this company until now known for its fruit juices marketed under the “Vigo” brand, has just moved into the production of mineral water under the “Opur” brand. All this, with the associated big publicity campaign.

Brice R. Mbodiam