Bralirwa, also known by its French name Brasseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda, is the largest brewer and soft beverage company in Rwanda. Its shares of stock are listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol BLRW. As of December 2017, the company's total assets were valued at RWF:127.73 billion (approximately US$149.72 million), with shareholders' equity of RWF:35.7 billion (US$41.83 million).
History The history of Bralirwa goes back to 1957. The management of the breweries of the Congo and Burundi, then under the management of Brasseries de Leopoldville (Brewery of Kinshasa), decided to build another brewery in the Eastern region. The city of Gisenyi, on the northern shores of Lake Kivu, was selected to house the new brewery. Gisenyi was selected for two reasons: it was easily accessible, by water, land and air; and Lake Kivu has a large quantity of proven reserves of methane gas, a source of alternative energy. The brewery became operational in 1959 and began producing Primus beer, the only brand produced until 1987. In 1987, a new premium local beer brand, Mützig was introduced. In 1989, Bralirwa began making Guinness under license.
In 1971, the Heineken Group, a Dutch brewing conglomerate, acquired a 70 percent majority shareholding in Bralirwa. With the acquisition, Bralirwa greatly improved its brewing process.
In 1974, Bralirwa diversified into the production of soft drinks. A soft beverages plant was opened in Kigali, Rwanda's capital and largest city. The brewer partnered with the Coca-Cola Company, which allowed Bralirwa to widen the range of products manufactured.
As of 2018, Bralirwa was a regionally and internationally recognized brewer and soft-beverage manufacturer, with an expanding portfolio of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Ownership The shares of stock of the company are listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE), where they trade under the symbol BLRW. The Heineken Group owns 75 percent of the shares of the company. The remaining 25 percent are owned by individual and institutional investors. In December 2009, the Government of Rwanda successfully divested from the company by selling 5 percent shareholding directly to the Heineken Group and by listing the remaining 25 percent on the RSE, through an initial public offering (IPO). , the ownership of the company stock was as depicted in the table below:
+ Bralirwa stock ownershipRank Name of ownerPercentage ownership1Heineken International40.012Belegginsmaatschapij BV35.003Arisaig Africa Consumer Fund Limited 7.064Rwanda Social Security Board 2.805CFC Stanbic Nominees Limited A/C NR13303 2.686FRB ITF Investec Africa Fund 2.587CFC Stanbic Nominees Limited A/C NR 4262756 1.998Frontaura Global Frontier Fund LLC 1.709Institutional and private investors via RSE5.18 Total100.00
Governance As of December 2017, the members of the board of directors of Bralirwa included the following individuals:
Boudewijn Haarsma: chairman Victor Madiela: managing director Chantal Mubarure: non-executive director George Gakuba: non-executive director John Bosco Sebabi: non-executive director Jordi Borrut Bel: non-executive director Hubert Eze: non-executive director
Operations The Bralirwa brewery is located in Gisenyi, approximately , by road, west of Kigali, Rwanda's capital city.
The administrative headquarters of the company is located in Kigali. Also located in Kigali is the Soft Beverages Plant, where Coca-Cola carbonated beverages are manufactured under license. In May 2011, press reports indicated that the company was in the process of establishing a new soft drinks manufacturing line at the company's plant in Kicukiro, a suburb of Kigali, and upgrading its brewing plant in Gisenyi.
Brands The brands manufactured by Bralirwa include:
Beers Primus Primus Citron Turbo King Huza Mützig, a 5.5% ABV lager; launched in 1987. Mützig Lite Heineken Amstel Legend
Soft drinks Coca-Cola Coca-Cola-Zero Fanta: Orange, Citron, Fiesta, Pineapple Sprite Krest Tonic Soda-Water Cheetah-Energy-drink
References
External links Homepage Heineken homepage Rwanda’s Bralirwa Gets KSh2.5 Billion Loan To Fund Expansion
Photos Bralirwa Brewery in Gisenyi