Traders hope for more sales as EABL unveils new spirits

Bottle lovers are set to have more choices as East African Breweries Ltd-EABL, Tuesday, unveiled four more brands of spirits in Rwanda’s growing beer industry.The spirits which include Gilbey’s, John walker red label, J&B, Baileys, Gordons, are expected to increase variety in the industry and also give a wider choice to consumers. It is the latest addition to the company’s Smirnoff Vodka, Smirnoff Ice, Bond 7 and V&A.“We provide a variety of beverages for our adult consumers which fit their different tastes and preferences,” Andrew Kulayige, East African Breweries Ltd Regional Retail Sales Manager, said while unveiling the brands at a ceremony that attracted bar owners in Kigali. Traders also expressed hope that the new brands would increase sales. “We are sure we will get more clients and this will help increase our sales since our consumers will be able to have more choice unlike before,” Felix Sugi of Isangano Bar, said during the unveiling of the brands.Sugi notes that with the reduction in size of the four spirit brands, consumers will be able to have choice that fits in their spending behaviour, an act that will attract more people willing to spend more hours in bars.Olivier Manzi of Friends Bar, notes that bar owners have been forced to decant spirits into small bottles due to disposable incomes of most clients who cannot afforf spirits in big bottles.Kulayije stressed that East African Breweries Ltd is eager to grow its beer and spirits volumes simultaneously, noting that EABL reduced the size of the four brands to 200ml bottles from 750 and 100ml bottles.EABL which is a subsidiary of Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits, beer and wine headquartered in United Kingdom.Kulayige declined to respond to questions from reporters, referring them to EABL’s headquarters in Nairobi.Experts say the increase of spirit brands on the market will help boost recent growth observed in the beer industry, following the emergency of BMC, the brewers of Skol beer and EABL that shook Bralirwa’s monopoly.East African Breweries Ltd is enjoying dominance in the country’s spirits market with 75 percent but still struggles in the beer market with 3 percent.

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Traders hope for more sales as EABL unveils new spirits