Consumers accuse Voltic of deceit

Consumers have raised concern over the alleged deception by Voltic Ghana Limited and Nivaansh Manufacturing Company Limited, producers of Voltic bottled water and Cool Pac sachet water respectively.

Voltic Company Limited and Cool Pac have entered into a business transaction in the name of franchise, which has led to a seeming deception of unsuspecting clientele.

The Chronicle is informed that Cool Pak, produced by Nivaansh Manufacturing Limited, under the authority of Voltic Ghana Company, has obtained a franchise from Voltic to bag its products (Cool sachet water) in a primary packaging, to create the impression that one is buying a Voltic product.

As a result, Cool Pac bags its products in bags marked Voltic Cool Pac to deceive the public, and chances are that anybody who buys a bag of Voltic sachet water is likely to be disappointed, since the product is not coming from the plant of Voltic.

A complainant said she was deceived into buying a bag of sachet water marked Voltic Cool Pac. Mrs. Belinda Fobi, a business woman, told The Chronicle that she was disappointed when, on reaching home, the contents turned out to be Cool Pac sachet water, and not Voltic.

According to her, she experienced the deception as she realised, upon checks, that Nivaansh Manufacturing Company Limited has obtained a franchise from Voltic to bag its products –Cool Pac I bags branded as Voltic Cool Pac.

Mrs. Fobi stressed that from her experience, it was obvious that Cool Pac sachet water was not coming from Voltic plants.  By franchise, it is the authorisation by a company to another company to sell its products, she said, and pointed out that, in this case, Cool Pac is not selling Voltic, but using Voltic to promote its product – Cool Pac – and stay in business

She said by the deception,Voltic and Cool Pac were forcing their products down the throats of consumers without the option of a choice, thus depriving consumers of the right to choose.

The complainant has called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), which has authorised the production of Cool Pac, to investigate the circumstance under which a product is being produced and marketed under two brand names.

She wants the FDA to act on the complaint, and ensure that sales are not based on deception, in order that consumers get value for their money.

Mrs. Fobi called on the FDA to come out with an explanation on how two companies produce a commodity with different branding.

Mr. Courage Kwadwogah, a manager of Cool Pac in Kumasi, claimed Voltic owns Cool Pac and that there is nothing wrong using Voltic in packaging Cool Pac products.  An official of Voltic corroborated the position of Mr. Kwadwogah, and emphasised that Voltic Ghana Company owns Cool Pac.

Meanwhile, Ms. Joyce Ahiadome, Corporate Communications Manager of Voltic, explained, when contacted on phone, that Voltic Ghana Limited has a franchise arrangement with oversight responsibilities with companies for the production of sachet water, and that Nivaansh Manufacturing Company Limited is one of them.

She said the company (Voltic) has the responsibility to do and check the quality of products being sold under its name.

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi.