Bralirwa records Rwf19b profit

Brasseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda (Bralirwa) recorded a Rwf19b net profit in 2012, thanks to increased sales of its beer and soft drink products.Jonathan Hall, the Bralirwa managing director, said the results indicate continued financial growth built over the years.Bralirwa was the sole beer and soft drinks manufacturer until Brasseries des Mille Collines (BMC), producers of SKOL beer, ended their monopoly in 2010.“Despite continued hardships in the global economy, Rwanda’s economy maintained its positive trend last year, with GDP growing by about 8 per cent. This was reflected by further volume growth in the beer and soft drink markets,” Hall said.Bralirwa’s volume sales grew to 1.7 million hector litres in 2012, increasing from 1.6 million hector litres the previous year.Formed in 1957 with breweries in Gisenyi, Rubavu District in the Western Province, Bralirwa produces a wide range of beer brands, including Primus, Mutzig, Guiness, Amstel and Turbo King and Heineken, which is imported from Holland. Primus, Bralirwa’s flagship beer brand hit the market in 1959.Last year, the brewer announced an investment programme to expand both the brewery and the soft drinks plant. The project’s second phase of investment is planned for this year and will also include investment in environmental safeguards.“The development of our joint venture in the Bramin irrigated maize farm to locally-source maize for some of our beer brands is progressing well. Continued investment provide a firm base upon which to build for our future,” Hall pointed out.Bralirwa recently joined hands with Minimex, a local milling firm, to locally-source maize for some of the beer brands by starting five-centre mounted pivot irrigation systems, each on 52 hectares and supporting infrastructure.Listed on the local bourse, Bralirwa’s board approved a dividend payment of Rwf20 to shareholders on July 2.This represents a decrease of 17.4 per cent compared to 2011.