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Top 10 Breweries in Africa and Their Products

African countries have diverse beers and malt drinks that breweries produce in most African countries. Brewers also make these beer brands with passion, skills, and great enthusiasm to have quality beers and create a market for their products.

South Africa has been leading in the production of beer in Africa and beyond. The country has been producing beer for over 300 years, and the continent widely regards them as a global leader.

The craft beer market has seen a steady increase, with more and more consumers getting into the culture of beer drinking in Africa. The brewery industry in Africa is thriving. They have been able to produce a variety of craft beers that are selling at competitive prices and locally.

10 Top Breweries in Africa and Their Products

Heineken, OB, Guinness, and Amstel are some of the most famous. These breweries are all popular worldwide. The list below shows the ten best breweries in Africa.

1. South African Breweries (SAB) – South Africa

South African Breweries is one of the biggest beer companies in South Africa. They are a subsidiary of A.B. InBev and have been producing beer since 1899. 

SAB is one of the most respected and prominent breweries in Africa. They have a diverse portfolio, including lager, ale, stout, pilsner, and wheat beers exported to over 40 countries. They also produce SAB regional craft beers, which small artisanal breweries across the country brew. 

Richard Rivett-Carnac is the present CEO of the company, and he has more than 13 years of experience in various roles in the A.B. InBev group.

Some of SABs Top Rate Brands

South Africa’s SAB is the leading brewer and supplier of soft drinks and beers. It has over 200 brands in its portfolio and ranks as one of the world’s top brewers by volume.

Some of SAB’s most popular brands include;

· Castle Milk Stout

· Carling Black Label

· Castle Lite

· Hansa Pilsener

· Castle Lager, etc

Castle Larger is the iconic and oldest beer brand in South Africa. The name came from ‘Cello,’ a nickname for Pieter Jacobus, and ‘Lager,’ which means ‘to store in cool places. Castle Larger was founded in 1859 by the founder of the Castle Brewery, Pieter Jacobus du Toit. 

Distribution Agreement of SAB

South African Breweries is an inspiring example of a globally focused business. The company’s distribution agreement with 75 countries across six continents indicates its commitment to meeting the changing needs of consumers worldwide.

How Many Breweries Does SAB Have in South Africa?

As the top brewery in South Africa and Africa, SAB operates seven breweries and 42 depots across the country. 

Brewing Capacity of SAB

Annually, the company has a brewing capacity of 3.1 billion liters.

The Revenue of the South African Breweries (SAB)

The estimated average revenue of the company is $3 Billion per annum.

2. Nigerian Breweries Plc – Nigeria

Nigerian Breweries Plc is the second-biggest brewing company in Africa and the largest and oldest in Nigeria.

With more than 80% of their beer produced in Nigeria, they can offer some of the most refreshing and enjoyable beverages to their consumers.

They produce a range of beers, including local favorites like Star Lager and Nigerian Red Wheat Beer and international favorites such as Corona Extra.

A member of the Heineken Group, the company established a second brewery in Aba named “Nigerian Breweries Limited” in 1957. The third brewery ‘Kaduna Brewery,’ began operation in 1963, and the fourth ‘Ibadan Brewery’ in 1982.

However, upon enacting the 1990 Companies and Allied Matters Act, the subsidiaries were all changed to “Nigerian Breweries Limited.” 

Some of Nigerian Breweries Plc Top Rate Brands

Nigerian Breweries Plc produces over 19 brands, some of which the top brands include;

· Star Lager (1949)

· Pale Lager Gulder lager beer (1970)

· Alcohol-free drinks Maltina (1976)

· Pale Lager Legend Extra Stout (1992)

· Amstel Malta (1994)

· ABV – 7.5% Heineken Lager (1998)

· Pineapple; Maltina Sip-it (2005)

· Fayrouz, in pear, pineapple, and exotic flavors (2006)

· Premium Lager Goldberg Lager (2011)

· Life Continental Lager (2011)

· Climax Energy drink Malta Gold (2011)

· Star Lite Lager (2014)

· Pale Lager Ace Passion Apple Spark (2014)

· 33 Export Lager (2015)

· Williams Dark Ale (2015)

· Turbo King Stout (2015)

· More Lager (2015)

· Breezer (2015)

· Ace Roots (2015)

· Star Radler (2015)

· Ace Rhythm (2015)

· Star TripleX (2015)

· Strongbow Cider (2015)

· Himalt (2015)

· Maltex (2015)

Distribution Agreement of Nigerian Breweries Plc

Operating across nine (9) breweries, the company has two malting plants and has distribution agreements across Nigeria and other West African countries.

The Revenue of Nigerian Breweries Plc

As of the end of the 2021 Financial Year, the revenue of Nigerian Breweries Plc is N437.196 Billion.

3. Al Ahram Beverages Company – Egypt

Since its inception in 1875, Al Ahram Beverages Company has always been committed to enhancing its customers’ lives by producing quality beers and other refreshments. 

Al Ahram Beverages Company is well known for its many famous brands, such as Birell, Amstel, Pilsner Urquell, Heineken, and many more.

Al Ahram Beverages Company was founded in 1897 by two Egyptian businessmen. The company’s first product was a refreshing beer called Al Ahrabiya, which became highly successful.

After the company expanded and formed partnerships with Heineken, it grew and became one of Egypt’s most well-known beverage companies.

Some of Al Ahram Beverages Company’s top brands;

Beer:

Heineken

Desperados

Stella

Meister Max

Sakaa

Non Alcoholic:

Fayrouz

Birell

Amstel Zero

Spirits:

Blue40

Black50

RTDS

Cubana rum, etc

Wines:

Omar Khanyam

Grand Marquis

Ayam

Leila, etc

Production and Distribution Facilities of Al Ahram Beverages Company

Al Ahram Beverages Company (ABC) is a leading beverage company in Egypt with five first-rate production facilities across Egypt and well-equipped with 100 employees. ABC has been exporting/distributing its seven brands to 7 countries worldwide for the last ten years.

Average Revenue of Al Ahram Beverages Company

The average revenue of Egypt’s foremost brewing company ABC is $556 million per annum.

4. Société des Boissons du Maroc – Morocco

Société des Boissons du Maroc SA (SBM) is a commercial brewery in Casablanca, Morocco owned by Castel Group since 2003. The company came through the vision of Abdellah El Haji, who started buying and selling wine in Rabat. 

A leading beverage company in Morocco, Société des Boissons du Maroc S.A. (SBM) delivers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer, wine, water, and olive oil, among other beverages.

SBM Partnerships

Société des Boissons du Maroc S.A. (SBM) has partnerships with the following brands;

· Heineken

· Danone group

· Crown Cork, and

· Coca-Cola 

5. Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited is a leading African brewery producing, marketing, and distributing alcoholic and non-alcoholic products. The company’s brands include Guinness, Bass, Becks, Powerade, Gatorade, and Dassler.

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited is a leading beverage company in Ghana and beyond. In 1960, when the company started, it had little capital and no experience in the industry.

Today, Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd has a substantial market share, brands such as Guinness Draught and Gold Label Beer, and has been at the forefront of fostering economic growth in Africa.

Top Brands of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited

Guinness

Star Beer

Malta Guinness

Orijin and

Smirnoff, among others 

Revenue of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited

The average revenue of GGBL is 684.98 million Ghanaian cedis (GHS), equivalent to 118.6 million U.S. dollars.

Production Capacity of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited

The US$10mn worth production plant of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited produces 60,000 bottles per hour of Origin Zero, Alvaro, and Malta Guinness brands.

6. Harar Brewery – Ethiopia

Harar Brewery is the first brewery founded in Ethiopia and is still the only one today. It was once known for its well-known Harari beer, but now it has diversified its product line to include Harar Beer, a light lager. 

Harar Brewery Top Brands

Harar Brewery in Ethiopia produces, markets, and distributes different brands of non-alcoholic beverages, stout, and beer, namely;

· Harar Beer (pale lager)

· Hakim Stout (stout)

· Harar Sofi and distributes

· Heineken

Production Capacity of Harar Brewery

Every year, the leading Ethiopian brewery produces, on average, five hundred thousand (500,000) hectoliters. 

Revenue of Harar Brewery

Harar Brewery, founded in 1878, is the oldest brewery in Africa. The company, now owned by Heineken International, generates annual revenue of $8 million on average.

7. Tanzania Breweries Limited – Tanzania

Tanzania Breweries Limited is the leading brewery in Tanzania. It was founded in 1933 and sold its first brews in 1936.

Today, the company belongs to the TBL Group of Companies. It operates nationwide, with some subsidiaries, including TBL Limited in Kenya, TBL Uganda Breweries Limited, TBL Tanzania Breweries Limited, and TBL Zambia Ltd.

Tanzania Breweries is one of Tanzania’s largest companies and the oldest brewery in East Africa. 

The company started operation in 1898, with its headquarters in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Breweries operates four breweries across Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha, and Mwanza. 

Top Brands of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL)

TBL presently markets and distributes 11 top brands, which include;

· Castle Milk Stout

· Castle Lite

· Castle Lager

· Safari Sparkling Water

· Safari Lager

· Kilimanjaro Lager

· Eagle

· Balimi

· Konyagi

· Bia Bingwa

· Grand Malta

· Ndovu Special Malt

Revenue of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL)

At the end of the 2021 financial year, the revenue of Tanzania Breweries Limited was Sh1. 015 trillion. The figure is a massive increase from the Sh961. Eight hundred eighty-six billion in revenue from the past financial year. 

Subsidiaries of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL)

The five (5) subsidiaries of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) include;

· Kibo Breweries Limited

· Darbrew Limited

· Tanzania Distilleries Limited

· Mountainside Farms Limited

· Tanzania Breweries Limited

8. Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) – Namibia

Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) is a company that deals with beer, ciders, water, mixers, and juices.

NBL has been operating for over 50 years and often has the title of Africa’s first brewery. The company was founded in 1968 when the country gained independence from Germany.

The Windhoek brewery was initially founded in 1920 by the German missionary Franz Koch and his wife, Emilie. Mr. Koch ran the company until Namibia became independent from South Africa in 1990.

The name later changed to Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) during the year when they opened their brewery on a new site in Windhoek.

Top Brands of NBL

Beers;

Windhoek

Tafel

Hansa Draught

Camelthorn

King Lager

Heineken

Ciders;

Strongbow

Water;

AquaSplash

Mixers;

McKane

Juices;

Fruitree, among other products

Revenue of Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL)

For the 2022 fiscal year, the net revenue of the leading beer maker in Namibia, NBL, is over N$3 billion.

9. East African Breweries (EABL) – Kenya

East African Breweries (EABL) is a subsidiary of Diageo Kenya Limited and the parent company of Kenya Breweries Limited.

Established in 1922, it serves as the country’s major commercial brewery. The company produces and distributes over 200 beers in Kenya and East Africa.

Top Brands of East African Breweries (EABL)

EABL produces and markets different brands of beer, such as;

Serengeti

Tusker

Guinness

Pilsner

Balozi and many others

Revenue of East African Breweries (EABL)

East African Breweries (EABL) sales as of the 2022 fiscal year are 109,409 KES million against 82,543 KES million in 2019.

The Production Capacity of EABL

Each year, the East African Breweries (EABL) produces 13.9 million hectoliters of beer, spirits, and E.U.s.

10. Zambian Breweries Plc – Zambia

Anheuser-Busch InBev owns Zambian Breweries Plc (Zambrew) (ABInBev), founded in 1963 as Northern Breweries Limited but was renamed in 1968. 

Zambrew is famous for the production of soft drinks and clear beer. It has been a long-standing tradition for Zambians to consume Zambrew, and is also internationally renowned.

The product line includes a range of flavors such as lime, lemon, cola, ginger, passion fruit, and many others.

Production Capacity of Zambian Breweries Plc

Zambrew has a production output of 2.3 million hl.

Brands that Zambian Breweries Plc (Zambrew) brews

Zambrew has a SABMiller license to brew the Castle. It also locally brews and imports a wide range of over 400 other brands, such as;

· Eagle Lager

· Rhino

· Mosi Lager

· Castle Lager

· Carling Black Label

· Castle Milk Stout

· Hansa Pilsner

· Redds

· Coca-Cola

· Sprite

· Fanta

· Schweppes

· Redd’s

· Castle Lite

· Ohlsson’s Lager, among others

Revenue of Zambian Breweries Limited

The revenue of Zambrew at the end of 2021 was ZMW 3,068,959,000. The figure is an increase from the 2020 revenue of ZMW 2,305,425,000.

What is the biggest brewery in Africa?

South African Breweries Limited, also called SAB, is Africa’s most significant brewery. The company was a subsidiary of SABMiller before it ceased trading and now belongs to Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV.

SAB produces and serves the whole of southern Africa soft drinks and beer from its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

What is the most popular beer in Africa?

The most popular beer in Africa includes Castel and 33 Export. However, other popular beer brands include;

· Guinness Foreign Extra Stout

· Beaufort

· Mützig Lager

· Beaufort Lite

· Guinness Smooth

· Guinness.

Africans also locally brew palm wine which is also common.

Palm wine is a drink consumed in Africa to this day. It’s made by fermenting the sap of, usually, the date palm tree. Palm wine is a popular beverage in many African countries like Kenya and Nigeria. In Ghana, you can enjoy it at any time, especially during one’s daily ritual, ‘ Wassa Wassa.’ 

What is Africa’s most-awarded beer?

In Africa, Carling Black Label is the most awarded beer and has received 50 awards.

Conclusion

Africa has a rich and diverse beer culture. Africa is known for its exciting and innovative brands that are loved worldwide.

Many African breweries have partnered with international companies to market their beers internationally, but most still brew locally.

The top 10 breweries in Africa listed above have been producing tasty, healthy products for decades with natural products sourced from African gardens. These breweries offer a wide range of beverages, from beer to soft drinks.

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