Reuters today confirmed a report, which was already published by inside.beer in July 2017. Spain’s 4th largest brewer Hijos de Rivera, maker of the Estrella Galicia beer brand will open a new brewery in Brazil “as part of a drive to accelerate its international expansion and boost sales outside of its home country.” (inside.beer, 14.7.2017)
The Spanish brewer plans to build a R$ 100 million (US$27 million at today’s valuation) brewery in the southwestern state Minas Gerais in Brazil. The initial information, that the city of Pocos de Caldas has been selected was not confirmed by the recent report. Juan Paz, Brazil country director of Hijos de Rivera, said that the location still has to be defined.
The new brewery will have an initial capacity of 200,000 hl of beer and beverages and will lift Estrella Galicia’s sales outside of Spain from 6 percent to 10 percent. Reuters said that the plant should go on-stream by 2021.
Hijos de Rivera is an independent family owned Galician company, which was founded in 1906. Its brand Estrella Galicia is by its own account the leader in the premium segment in the Spanish beer market. The company ranks no. 4 in the domestic beer market. With a production of more than 2.68 million hectoliters of beer per year, Hijos de Rivera and its beverage brands are consumed and enjoyed in the Spanish market and across more than 50 countries. The portfolio of beverages, including beers, mineral waters, wines and ciders, and brands such as Estrella Galicia, 1906, Cabreiroá, Fontarel, Agua de Cuevas, Ponte de Boga and Maeloc. With six subsidiaries abroad, the company has doubled its revenues to 450 million Euros (US$516m) in the last five years.
