This research set out to evaluate the nature and channels of distribution of 7up soft drink product in Enugu Metropolis. It arose as a result of the need to find out the problems being encounter by the company in distributing its soft drink.

The study basically adopted the survey method of research to this end, and also researchers made a detailed study on the related study or work which other researchers have done on similar or related areas of study.

In other to find out the relationship with particular reference to 7up bottling company, the researchers, apart from information gathered from interviewed respondent.

After the careful analysis of the data collected, it was found out that with respect to 7up bottling company, the distribution system being use has not made it possible to reach to other area in Enugu.

The 7up bottling company serve the entire country but usually concentrates mostly on western and southern area.

The researchers also made some recommendation to 7up bottling company to adopt the effective channel of distribution of consumer goods and also to allocate more depots in the area of Enugu, and more trucks to be provided for transportation of it products.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Distribution is concerned with the organizing system of transportation storage and communication so that goods and service will be readily available to consumers.

Distribution is a very important element of the marketing mix because of the utilities it creator for consumers distribution creates three types of utility: time utility place utility and possession.

Time utility is created when distribution channel make product available for sale, when the consumers want to purchase than. Place utility is created when given good and service ownership on possession utility is created when the title to the products posses from the producer or intermediary to purchaser possession utility can also pursuit when transactions in which the title does not pass to the buyer such as in the case of retailer cars.

Koltor (2003:354) describe channels of distribution as the sets of firms and individuals that takes title or assist in transferring title to a product good and services as it moves from the product to the consumers.

Olakunori & Ejiouneme (1998:93) Say it is the path taken by products and their title in their owned movement from producer to consumers or industrial for ether consumption possesses or utc in the users they of other goods and service.

The product of soft-drink stated in Nigeria when the Nigeria mineral water limited was established by a foreign concern in 1933 since than many companies have established various brands of soft-drinks firms.

Among the companies in the early rush to make impact in the soft drink industry were pepsi-cola Company with it is sword brand of soft-drink and the Nigeria breweries limited which bottled Tango and Sundowner bands of soft-drink we had also the seven up bottling company (7up) which made and pepsi brands of soft drinks.