AB-InBev (ABI) Namibia says it is making significant strides to expand its local beer production and diversify its product portfolio with new products and land acquisition for future expansion plans.
Kevin Louw, the Country Manager of ABI Namibia, revealed the company’s ambitious plans, highlighting the beer manufacturer’s impressive growth despite economic challenges.
He said despite facing economic challenges such as fluctuating interest rates and consumer spending constraints, ABI Namibia has managed to achieve remarkable growth through its strategic initiatives.
“Our business is experiencing phenomenal growth within this challenging market,” Louw said on Monday.
The company distributes a variety of locally made beers such as Castle Lager, Castle Lite, Eagle Lager and Carling Black Label to over 200 local suppliers.
“We’re a global company, and this is just a glimpse of our global brands available in Namibia. ABI Namibia currently distributes 10 different brands with various Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) and produces four locally,” said Louw.
One of the remarkable local productions by ABI Namibia is the Eager Lager, manufactured using locally sourced ingredients.
Louw said in line with the company’s expansion plans for Namibia, ABI Namibia is gearing up to launch local production of Lion Lager.
“We are planning to expand our brewery with two additional tanks to boost local production. This move will not only enhance local productivity but also pave the way for further expansion,” Louw said, elaborating on the company’s expansion plans.
He said the company has already secured additional land to accommodate the growing demands of its business.
This comes as currently, ABI Namibia operates one brewery, three depots, and its head office in the country.
The head office serves as the operational hub for commercial teams with depots spread across the country in Windhoek, Okahandja and Oshakati to facilitate deliveries to customers nationwide.
Louw noted that ABI Namibia has about 146 permanent employees and over 70 third-party contractors supporting their operations.
The company also collaborates with more than 200 local suppliers, contributing to the local economy.
On the same note, ABI Namibia Spokesperson Francis Handili, revealed that the company had much more in store beyond the Eagle lager brand.
In terms of expansion, Handili hinted at more developments on the horizon which could lead to the company exporting to international markets based on studies underway.
Regarding the target markets for their expanded product portfolio, Handili disclosed that the company is considering exports.
This announcement hints at ABI Namibia’s ambition to broaden its product range and increase production capacity, signalling its intent to capture a larger market share.
“The markets will have to be determined by our surveys. So, we don’t want to pre-empt everything right now, but our surveys will definitely dictate that,” Handili said.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, commonly known as AB InBev, is an American-Belgian multinational drink and brewing company based in Leuven, Belgium and is the largest brewer in the world with a market value of around €85.94 billion.
