RWANDA – Heineken’s operating unit in Rwanda has said that it will officially launch local production of Heineken beer in its brewery in Gisenyi, Rwanda from December 20, 2018
Rwanda will become the 9th African country producing, packing and distributing Heineken beer locally alongside Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Ethiopia.
Heineken N.V, the global parent company of the Rwandan subsidiary has awarded Bralirwa the licence to local production of the beer.
Locally produced Heineken beer will replace the one the local company has been importing from the Netherlands since 1991.
The company said the locally produced Heineken beer will maintain the same international quality standards of the rand, and with a fresher taste.
“We believe that this innovation will create additional business opportunities for Bralirwa and for our business partners in Rwanda as well as through export to neighbouring countries,” said Mr Sander Bokelman, Bralirwa’s Supply Chain Director in a statement.
“By switching from importing to producing Heineken in Rwanda, Bralirwa will also importantly contribute more in the development of the local economy.”
For consumers, the change will bring down the retail price of Heineken to US$0.9231 (800 Rwandan Franc) from US$1.13 (Rwf1,000) a bottle.
Bralirwa, Rwanda’s largest brewer with eight beer brands, including Primus and a variety of soft drinks, has been importing and distributing Heineken in Rwanda.
Its brand portfolio includes Primus beer, Mutzig beer, Turbo King, Amstel, Legend Extra Stout and Heineken.
Primus is the company’s largest selling beer brand and has been available to consumers since 1959.
Founded in 1957, Bralirwa has been producing and selling soft drink brands under a licensing agreement with The Coca-Cola Company.
These include Coca Cola, Fanta Orange, Fanta Citron, Fanta Fiesta, Sprite, Stoney, Krest Tonic and the Company’s own brand Vital’ O.
Last month, the board of the company announced the appointment of Mr. Lieven van der Borght as Chairman of Bralirwa Plc to succeed Boudewijn Haarsma who left the company as from 18th, October 2018.
