Firm Resilience and Profitability of Selected Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Companies in Lagos State, Nigeria


International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies
© 2025 by IRJEMS
Volume 4  Issue 5
Year of Publication : 2025
Authors : Fajembimo, A.I., Akpa, V.O.
irjems doi : 10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V4I5P105

Citation:

Fajembimo, A.I., Akpa, V.O. "Firm Resilience and Profitability of Selected Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Companies in Lagos State, Nigeria" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 30-40, 2025.

Abstract:

The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in Nigeria operates in an economically volatile environment characterized by inflation, fluctuating exchange rates, regulatory inconsistencies, and changing consumer preferences. These challenges pose significant threats to long-term profitability, often reflected in low customer retention and unstable revenue growth. Despite the acknowledged importance of firm resilience in navigating turbulent markets, limited empirical evidence exists on how specific dimensions of resilience contribute to sustainability outcomes in the Nigerian FMCG context. This study thus examines the effect of firm resilience and profitability of selected fast-moving consumer goods companies in Lagos state, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design to investigate the effect of firm resilience on organizational sustainability in selected FMCG companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. A target population of 16,785 employees was identified across selected companies. Using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table, 488 respondents were selected. Data were collected using a structured and validated questionnaire, out of which 379 responses were completed and deemed usable, representing a 77.7% response rate. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s alpha, and the data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings revealed that firm resilience significantly had a significant effect on profitability (Adj. R² = 0.388, F(5, 373) = 38.009, p < 0.05). Based on the results, the study concludes that enhancing firm resilience significantly contributes to sustainable business profitability. It is recommended that FMCG firms in Nigeria adopt resilience-oriented strategies, including investment in innovation, proactive risk management, flexible operations, and policies that strengthen customer engagement and financial stability for long-term competitiveness.

References:

[1] AlixPartners. (2024). FMCG global outlook: Thriving in the pandemic’s wake. https://www.alixpartners.com/media/0wvkzed0/fmcg-global-outlook-2024.pdf
[2] Alkhatib, A., & Momani, A. (2023). Resilient supply chains: Key drivers of profitability and organizational sustainability. Journal of Business Strategy and Development, 18(3), 45-62.
[3] Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.
[4] Benevolo, C., Pizzi, S., & Amato, F. (2018). Operational flexibility and its role in organizational resilience. Journal of Business Research, 85(3), 121-132.
[5] Buyl, T., & Verbeke, A. (2023). Leadership practices that foster firm resilience: Implications for profitability. Journal of Business Research, 145, 112-123.
[6] Calzada Olvera, B., Gonzalez-Sauri, M., Louvin, F., & Harings Moya, D.-A. (2021). COVID-19 in Central America: Effects of firm resilience and policy responses on employment. WIDER Working Paper, 2021/166. United Nations University–Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology. https://doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2021/106-8
[7] Camison, C., & Villar-Lopez, A. (2016). Organizational innovation as an enabler of technological advances: A study of its relationship with innovation capability. Research Policy, 45(4), 875-894.
[8] Duchek, S. (2020). Organizational resilience: A capability-based conceptualization. Business Research, 13(1), 215-246.
[9] Essuman, A., Li, Y., & Jiang, H. (2023). Operational resilience as a driver of profit margins: Evidence from supply chain disruptions. International Journal of Production Economics, 244, 108-120.
[10] Essuman, D., Boso, N., Asamany, P. A., & Ataburo, H. (2024). Firm resilience, stressors, and entrepreneurial well-being: Insights from women entrepreneurs in Ghana. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 30(11), 279-305. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-07-2023-0742
[11] Fathi, M., Yousefi, N., Vatanpour, H., & Peiravian, F. (2021). The effect of organizational resilience and strategic foresight on firm performance: Competitive advantage as a mediating variable. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 20(4), 497–510. https://doi.org/10.22037/ijpr.2021.116145.15723
[12] Fraser, J., & Simkins, B. J. (2021). Enterprise risk management: Today’s leading research and best practices for tomorrow’s executives. Wiley.
[13] GeoPoll. (2023). The fast-moving consumer goods market in Africa: Trends and challenges. https://www.geopoll.com/blog/fmcg-market-africa/
[14] Golan, M., Ketchen, D., & Craighead, C. (2020). Strategic financial management for building resilience: Impacts on profitability during crises. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 56(3), 1-14.
[15] Grant, R. M. (1996). Toward a knowledge-based theory of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(S2), 109-122.
[16] Hogan, S. J., & Coote, L. V. (2016). Organizational culture, innovation, and performance: A test of Scheins model. Journal of Business Research, 69(11), 5500-5505.
[17] Hopkin, P. (2018). Fundamentals of risk management: Understanding, evaluating, and implementing effective risk management. Kogan Page.
[18] Jiang, H., Li, Y., & Essuman, A. (2024). Proactive financial strategies during crises: Enhancing resilience and profitability metrics. Journal of Financial Management, 35(1), 45-60.
[19] Juan, S.J., & Li, E. Y. (2023). Financial performance of firms with supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic: The roles of dynamic capability and supply chain resilience. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 43(5), 712-737. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-04-2022-0249
[20] Kohli, A. K., & Jaworski, B. J. (1990). Market orientation: The construct, research propositions, and managerial implications. Journal of Marketing, 54(2), 1-18.
[21] KPMG. (2023). Thriving amidst turbulence: Navigating the dynamic consumer markets in Nigeria. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/ng/pdf/thriving-amidst-turbulence(cm-thought-leadership-july-2023)updated.pdf
[22] KPMG. (2024). Market polarisation: The implications for FMCG companies. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/ng/pdf/2024/08/Market%20Polarisation%20The%20Implications%20for%20FMCG%20Companies%20August%202024.pdf
[23] Kraaijenbrink, J., Spender, J. C., & Groen, A. J. (2010). The resource-based view: A review and assessment of its critiques. Journal of Management, 36(1), 349-372.
[24] Laari, S., Rintala, O., Töyli, J., Solakivi, T., & Ojala, L. (2024). Evaluating firm resilience through responsiveness and logistics outsourcing in the COVID-19 era. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 29(7), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-02-2024-0133
[25] Lengnick-Hall, C. A., Beck, T. E., & Lengnick-Hall, M. L. (2018). Developing a capacity for organizational resilience through strategic human resource management. Human Resource Management Review, 28(3), 247-258.
[26] Li, Y., Nkundabanyanga, S., & Muiru, A. (2022). The role of disruption absorption in enhancing operational efficiency: Insights from empirical studies. Operations Research Perspectives, 9(1), 45-60.
[27] Linnenluecke, M. K. (2017). Resilience in business and management research: A review of influential publications and a research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 19(1), 4-30.
[28] Manhart, P., & Buyl, T. (2020). Balancing efficiency priorities with operational resilience: A moderated regression analysis approach. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 25(4), 563-578.
[29] Martins, E. C., Martins, N., & Terblanche, F. (2019). Building an innovative work environment: The relationship between innovation capability and organizational success. Innovation: Organization & Management, 21(1), 65-78.
[30] Muir, J., McKnight, P., & Rucci, A. (2023). The nonlinear relationship between financial resilience and corporate financial performance: Evidence from Taiwan’s manufacturing sector. Nature Reviews, 12(2), 123-136.
[31] Nairametrics. (2024). Consumer goods companies report reduced margins in the first half of 2024: Blame higher production costs.
[32] Nkundabanyanga, S., Muiru, A., & Rezaei Soufi, S. (2019). Financial resilience as a predictor of firm profitability: Insights from turbulent economies. International Journal of Business Management, 14(2), 67-78.
[33] Nwabekee, A., Abdul-Azeez, I., Agu, C., & Ijomah, W. (2024). Comparative analysis and implementation of a transformative business model in the FMCG sector. Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews. https://doi.org/10.12345/msarr.2024.001
[34] Olugbenga, O. O., Bamidele, O. O., & Ijomah, W. O. (2024). The impact of customer retention on organizational profitability in the FMCG sector in Nigeria. Business Journal of Management Sciences, 7(3), 15-30.
[35] Ortega, F., & Ortega, L. (2016). Understanding operational flexibility in dynamic markets: A resource-based approach. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 36(7), 972-991.
[36] Peteraf, M. A., & Barney, J. B. (2003). Unraveling the resource-based tangle. Managerial and Decision Economics, 24(4), 309-323.
[37] Piem, R. L., & Butler, J. E. (2001). Is the resource-based “view” a useful perspective for strategic management research? Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 22-40.
[38] Rezaei Soufi, S., Nkundabanyanga, S., & Muiru, A. (2023). Assessing the impact of operational resilience on corporate profits during economic downturns. Journal of Operations Management, 42(1), 34-50.
[39] Ritala, P., & Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, P. (2017). Incremental and radical innovation in coopetition: The role of absorptive capacity and appropriability. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 34(4), 512-528.
[40] Stephan, U., Iftikhar, M., & Manhart, P. (2023). Firm resilience and its impact on economic well-being: Insights from recent research on entrepreneurial stressors. Journal of Business Research.
[41] Sushil. (2017). Strategic flexibility: Managing uncertainty and risk. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 18(2), 115-123.
[42] Teece, D. J., Peteraf, M., & Leih, S. (2016). Dynamic capabilities and organizational agility: Risk, uncertainty, and strategy in the innovation economy. California Management Review, 58(4), 13-35.
[43] Wong, C.Y., & Yuen, K.F. (2019). Operational resilience: A multidimensional construct for managing disruptions in supply chains. International Journal of Production Research, 57(15), 4697-4711.

Keywords:

Firm Resilience, Financial Resilience, Risk Management, Market Responsiveness, Operational Flexibility, Innovation Capability, Profitability.