This study is more concern on the CONSUMER BRAND PREFERENCE IN THE PURCHASE OF BEVERAGES IN ENUGU METROPOLIS. Rightly, from the time immemorial, there had been several cases of the purchase of different brand of beverages consumption either domestically or for commenced purpose.

Consumer brand preference in the purchase of beverage is simply the procurrent of different brand of beverages in the relation to their choices in the highest order.

Based on the study we shall focus on the various brands of beverage purchased by consumers which are divided into two groups:-

The locally processed and foreign processed ones:

Conversely, under the locally processed ones. We have the popularly known Lulu Juice, Soya milk, Zobo drink and some of the foreign beverage, coca cola soft drink, Heineken beer, Eva wine most importantly, the manners in which consumers behave towards the purchase of these aforementioned brands determine their taste, which is backed-p by their level of income. With this, one may ask why do sellers prefer to brand their products and the meaning of branding. Branding is the name, term, sign, symbol or design or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods or services of ones sellers or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those competitors.

Today, branding is such a strong force that hardly anything goes unbranded. Beverage is branded with separate brand names from the producer for the following reasons: Brand name makes it easier for the seller to process order and track down problems. Furthermore, the seller finds it easier to trace the order if it is missed or to determine why the beverages was rancid if consumers complain. The brand name gives the seller the opportuni9ty to attract a loyal and profitable set of consumers. This create brand loyalty to sellers thereby ensuring protection from competition and greater control in planning their marketing mix. It also makes it possible for a company to create a preferential demand for their products in a class of products.

With these one can see that beverages distributors want brand names as a means of making their product easier to handle, identifying suppliers holding production to certain quality standards and increasing buying preference. And consumers want brand names to help them identify quality difference and shop more efficiently.

Looking at the purchasing of the brand of beverage; most consumers that belong to the peasant group always go for the locally processed beverage because they fill it is the cheapest brand that money can buy.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Majority of the consumers of beverage in Enugu Metropolis go for the locally processed beverage because it has been recently find out by researchers that the locally processed beverage e.g. Soya milk contain high protein which is very good for the body system and contains low sugar substance than the foreign beverage e.g. cocoa. Also doctors recommend the locally beverage to people that are lacking vitamin and cant buy those expenses drugs or vitamins table of beverage over another thereby given rise to prior choice.

BRAND – A name of trademark used to identify a product.

CONSUMERS – One who uses economic goods or services.

UNETHICAL PRACTICES – The application of ethics and unsound business practices and an unconscious actions.

BRIDGE THE PURCHASE – Effort aimed at Channeling ideas properly towards.

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY

This research puts us in a position to rectify why the locally processed brand is preferred and the problems militating against it:

i. To ascertain why the less un-enlighten goes for the foreign processed brands

ii. To find out why people trade on the foreign brands in spite of the low prices of the local beverage.

iii. To find out the factors responsible for poor processing of beverage by this local processors.

iv. To find out possible solutions on how to bridge the purchasing gap between the locally processed beverage and the foreign processed brand of beverage.

1.4 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is focused on the consumers beverage in Enugu metropolis. But due to some humiliation that hindered the adequate research work, such as:

a. Insufficient literatures related to the consumer brand preference in the purchase of beverage are not available. Instead the research used books of different authors in reviewing consumer behaviour.

b. Finance to carryout the necessary work and time limit caused but eh short academic year.

c. The problem of collecting data in current statistics on brand preference in the purchase of beverage and libraries complain about lack of information.

d. Meeting an appropriate processors and willing consumers posed a problem.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Over the years there has been inequality in the consumer brand preference in the purchase of beverage. This study shall enable use to sort out the factors responsible for this trend.

So, the study will be great benefit to the marketers, processors and in particular the consumers.

Finally, it is hoped that thus research work will be helpful to new processors an sellers so that they might know the reigning brand and how to improve on the low grade ones. So as to bridge the inequality gap among various brand.

Sometimes, the producers usually maximize profit by adding more water to the beverage, which is an unethical practice. Then back to the exotic brands the reverse is the case and most consumers go for these brands because they fell its more hygienic compare to the locally made product due to the level of civilization both the poor and rich go for the foreign beverage.

Now, in Enugu metropolis, the purchase of foreign beverage has risen tremendously because one can seldom find locally sell it most in the campus. And we are posed with the issue of the variable that affect the low consumption of locally processed beverage in Enugu metropolis.