AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

Zimbabwe’s Delta Corporation invests US$1.1m in sorghum production to meet rising beer demand

Apr 10, 2021Apr 10, 2021 Editor

ZIMBABWE – Delta Corporation Limited, leading manufacturer and marketer of both international and locally produced beverages has invested US$1.1 million into sorghum planting under a strategy to secure inputs for its massive operation. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed blue-chip, has recently been making fresh forays into domestic and foreign markets, unlocking opportunities for growth and higher demand for beer. The US$1.1 million injection, according to Zimbabwe Independent, will be channelled production of 13, 425 tonnes of sorghum to quench up the thirst of beer lovers as demand rises. “We have…

Molson Coors debuts organic beer as Beam Suntory unveils a new zero-sugar vodka line

Apr 8, 2021Apr 8, 2021 Editor

US – Molson Coors Beverage Company has launched a new organic, low-calorie brew targeting health-conscious consumers while its counterpart, Beam Suntory has expanded its Pinnacle Vodka range with the introduction of a new zero-sugar vodka line. Dubbed Coors Pure, the new beer is Molson Coors’ first alcoholic beverage to be certified as organic by the USDA. Coors Pure being launched at a time when better-for-you beers are proving to be better performers even as the category at large flags facing the explosion of interest in other alcoholic beverage options such…

SAB to launch new B-BBEE scheme with US$371m worth of AB InBev’s shares

Apr 7, 2021Apr 7, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Breweries (SAB), subsidiary of AB InBev is set to launch its new B-BBEE scheme SAB Zenzele Kabili which will own R5.4 billion (US$371m) worth of the parent compay’s shares, after the maturation of its SAB Zenzele in May 2021. SAB Zenzele is the largest B-BBEE scheme in the history of South Africa in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, with a total maturation value of R9.7 billion. Launched in 2010, the landmark scheme transaction endeavoured to give the company’s retailer partners – taverners, bottle store…

Anheuser-Busch doubles down on barley upcycling, invests US$100m in production capacity expansion

Apr 6, 2021Apr 6, 2021 Editor

US – Anheuser-Busch, a subsidiary of the world’s largest brewing company AB InBev, is investing US$100 million to expand the production capacity of its subsidiary that takes barley after it is used to make beer and repurposes it to be incorporated into food and other beverages. The funding is part of Anheuser-Busch’s pledge in February to invest more than US$1 billion in its U.S. facilities during the next two years and is anticipated to create 50 jobs. The maker of Budweiser and Michelob Ultra said it is renovating a building…

Tanzania Breweries’ Castle Lite features as the only African brand to win Creative X Awards by AB InBev

Mar 25, 2021Mar 25, 2021 Editor

TANZANIA – Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewer has crowned Castle Lite Tanzania as the 2021 winner of the “Creative Use of Data” category, at its in-house and globally recognized Creative X Awards. The Creative X Awards exists to celebrate and scale creative ideas that drive effectiveness and business growth. Being the only African brand to emerge a winner this year, Castle Lite bagged the accolade courtesy of its cold tracker innovation which seeks to ensure consumers can easily and readily access cold beer, keeping to the brand’s…

COVID-19 pandemic takes big bite on Namibia Breweries earnings reporting 18% decline in half-year revenue

Mar 16, 2021Mar 16, 2021 Editor

NAMIBIA – Namibia Breweries Limited’s (NBL), subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group has reported a 18% decline in half year revenue for the period ended December 2020, settling at N$1.3 billion (US$87.3m). The leading brewer attributes the decline to COVID- 19 related restrictions as well as alcohol bans in South Africa (SA), which adversely impacted the trading environment. According to the company its overall volumes went down by 23.1% despite Namibian beer volumes increasing by 1.5% on the back of strong consumer support and loyalty, with specifically Windhoek…

South African craft brewery Brewsters Craft launches limited edition of mango beer in celebration of women

Mar 11, 2021Mar 14, 2021 Editor

Company name: Brewsters Craft Product type: Craft beer Innovation: New flavour Brewsters Craft, a female-focused brewery, contract facility, lab and beer education space has launched a limited edition of its Mango Beer, under its Tolokazi craft beer brand. According to Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, the owner of the company and the first black woman brewery owner in South Africa, the limited edition was released in celebration of the International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. The mango beer was developed to honour Yamekela Mbakaza-Bhelekazi, Brewsters Craft’s head brewer. The proceeds from the sales of…

EABL unveils new sleek look for Tusker Malt Lager

Feb 19, 2021Feb 19, 2021 Editor

Company: East African Breweries Limited (EABL), Kenya Product type: Beer Innovation: New packaging East African Breweries Limited (EABL) subsidiary of Diageo has introduced a new look for its first premium brand, Tusker Malt Lager. It now comes in a new stylish 500ml can, featuring a green background with the words and logo written in gold. Tusker Malt Lager with 5.0% alcohol by volume (ABV) is brewed for longer than other contemporary lagers giving it that unmistakably rich, smooth premium taste that is widely recognized and that consumers have grown to…

South African Breweries appeals for ‘responsible taxation’ to aid alcohol sector’s recovery

Feb 9, 2021Feb 9, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s biggest beer maker, South African Breweries (SAB), has made an open appeal to the Treasury not to increase excise taxes in the forthcoming budget announcement, citing a need for the industry to recover from Covid-19, which resulted in three sales bans. “Dear Minister, our farmers are still recovering from the impacts of stopping alcohol trade. That’s why when you #TaxBeerResponsibly, you help our farmers sustain their grains, their livelihoods as well as the beer value chain. “This is one of the many positive effects of…

SA craft breweries in dire need of resumption of alcohol trade or risk collapse

Jan 27, 2021Jan 27, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – The current ban on alcohol sales in South Africa is pushing craft brewers to the brink of closure with 87.5% of the businesses at a risk of shutting down permanently due to the economic impact of the ban. Already, 30% of the local breweries have been forced to permanently shut their doors and 165,000 people have lost their jobs. This was revealed by Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA) who undertook a survey amongst its members to assess the impact of COVID-19 and its related restriction…