Fifteen months after laying the foundation stone (inside.beer, 11.12.2017), Heineken has officially opened its first brewery in Mozambique. The site which has a yearly beer production capacity of 0.8 million hectoliters has costed USD 100 million (EUR 85 million) and will employ a total of 200 people.
Located in the province of Maputo, between the Marracuene and Manhiça districts, the brewery has recently started to brew Txilar, a brand-new beer for Mozambican consumers. Heineken Mozambique will also continue to offer international brands including Heineken®, Amstel, Sagres and Strongbow.
Heineken started its activities in Mozambique at the end of 2016 and is challenging AB InBev, which is clear market leader and already operates three breweries in the East African country. Additionally, Cervejas de Mocambique (CDM), AB InBev’s local unit, is currently investing USD 180 million to build a fourth brewery with a production capacity of 2 million hectoliters (inside.beer, 10.12.2018).
Substantial gas reserves discovered off Mozambique's Indian Ocean coastline more than a decade ago, a GDP growth of 3.5% in 2018 and a young and fast growing population of about 29 million people has fueled beer consumption, which stands today at 10.5 liters per capita.
Around 500 guests attended the opening ceremony last week including the Governor of Maputo Province, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and the Dutch Ambassador. Heineken was represented by Mrs. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Mr. Michel de Carvalho, Executive Members of the Board of Directors of Heineken Holding N.V., as well as Mr. Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Heineken N.V., Mr. Roland Pirmez, President for the Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe region and Mr. Nuno Simes, Heineken Mozambique's General Manager.
Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO of Heineken N.V. said: "We believe in Mozambique. The population is young and vibrant, the middle-class is growing and living increasingly in cities, the economic perspectives are encouraging and the beer market has a great potential to grow. The construction of Heineken’sfirst brewery is a major step for the company's presence in the country."
