Bralirwa
Encyclopedia
Bralirwa, also known by its French name Brasseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda, is the largest brewer
and soft beverage
company in the Republic of Rwanda.
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: (a) It was easily accessible, by water, land and air and (b) 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 Dutch brewer Heineken acquired a 70% majority share in Bralirwa. With the acquisition, Bralirwa greatly improved its brewing process. In 1974, Bralirwa diversified into the production of soft drink
s. 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.
Today, Bralirwa is a regionally and internationally recognized brewer and soft beverage manufacturer with an expanding portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
of the company are listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange
(RSE), where they trade under the symbol BLRW. The Heineken Group owns 75% of the shares of the company. The remaining 25% are owned by individual and institutional investors. In December 2009, the Government of Rwanda successfully divested from the company by selling 5% shareholding directly to the Heineken Group and by listing the remaining 25% on the RSE, through an Initial Public Offering
(IPO). , the ownership of the company stock is as depicted in the table below:
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Bralirwa Stock Ownership
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Rank !!Name of Owner!!Percentage Ownership
|-
|1||Heineken Group||75.0
|-
|2||Institutional and Private Investors via RSE
||25.0
|-
|||Total||100.0
|-
|}
, approximately 117 kilometres (72.7 mi), by road, west of Kigali
, Rwanda's capital city. The administrative headquarters of the company are located in Kigali. Also located in Kigali is the Soft Beverages Plant, where Coca-Cola carbonated beverages of are manufactured under license.
Brewer
Brewer may refer to:*Brewer, someone who makes beer by brewing*Brewer , a disambiguation page that lists people with the surname Brewer*Brewer, Maine, a city in southern Penobscot County, Maine, United States, near the city of Bangor...
and soft beverage
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
company in the Republic of Rwanda.
History
The history of Bralirwa goes back to 1957. The management of the breweries of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, then under the management of Brasseries de Leopoldville (Brewery of Kinshasa), decided to build another brewery in the Eastern region. The city of Gisenyi
Gisenyi
Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in the Western Province of Rwanda. Gisenyi is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population of the city is about 106 000 .-Description:...
, on the northern shores of Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika...
, was selected to house the new brewery. Gisenyi was selected for two reasons: (a) It was easily accessible, by water, land and air and (b) Lake Kivu has a large quantity of proven reserves of methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
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
Mutzig
Mutzig is a commune located at the entrance of the Bruche River Valley, in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace, in north-eastern France. the commune of Mutzig is on the Route des Vins d'Alsace.-History:...
was introduced. In 1989, Bralirwa began making Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
under license.
In 1971, the Dutch brewer Heineken acquired a 70% majority share in Bralirwa. With the acquisition, Bralirwa greatly improved its brewing process. In 1974, Bralirwa diversified into the production of soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s. A soft beverages plant was opened in Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
, Rwanda's capital and largest city. The brewer partnered with the Coca-Cola Company, which allowed Bralirwa to widen the range of products manufactured.
Today, Bralirwa is a regionally and internationally recognized brewer and soft beverage manufacturer with an expanding portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Ownership
The shares of stockStock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
of the company are listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange
Rwanda Stock Exchange
The Rwanda Stock Exchange , is Rwanda's principal stock exchange. It was founded in January 2011. The RSE is operated under the jurisdiction of Rwanda's Capital Markets Advisory Council, , which in turn reports to National Bank of Rwanda, the country's Central Bank.The exchange's doors opened for...
(RSE), where they trade under the symbol BLRW. The Heineken Group owns 75% of the shares of the company. The remaining 25% are owned by individual and institutional investors. In December 2009, the Government of Rwanda successfully divested from the company by selling 5% shareholding directly to the Heineken Group and by listing the remaining 25% on the RSE, through an Initial Public Offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
(IPO). , the ownership of the company stock is as depicted in the table below:
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Bralirwa Stock Ownership
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Rank !!Name of Owner!!Percentage Ownership
|-
|1||Heineken Group||75.0
|-
|2||Institutional and Private Investors via RSE
Rwanda Stock Exchange
The Rwanda Stock Exchange , is Rwanda's principal stock exchange. It was founded in January 2011. The RSE is operated under the jurisdiction of Rwanda's Capital Markets Advisory Council, , which in turn reports to National Bank of Rwanda, the country's Central Bank.The exchange's doors opened for...
||25.0
|-
|||Total||100.0
|-
|}
Management
As of December 2009, the top management at Bralirwa includes the following individuals:- Mr. Sven Erik Piederiet - Managing Director
- Willy Ngana - Financial Director
- Alexander Koch - Commercial Director
- Sonia Kubwimana - Human Resources Director
- Mr Daaf Jacobus van TILBURG - Logistics Director
- Pascal Karangwa - Technical Director [up dated by fabian UKUNDWANIMANA]
Operations
The Bralirwa brewery is located in GisenyiGisenyi
Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in the Western Province of Rwanda. Gisenyi is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population of the city is about 106 000 .-Description:...
, approximately 117 kilometres (72.7 mi), by road, west of Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
, Rwanda's capital city. The administrative headquarters of the company are located in Kigali. Also located in Kigali is the Soft Beverages Plant, where Coca-Cola carbonated beverages of are manufactured under license.
