BRALIRWA’s story can be traced back to 1957, when a former Congolese company BRALIMA (Brasseries Limonaderies et Malteries Africaines) decided to establish a new brewery site in the Eastern region of the Belgian colonial territory. The Gisenyi (Rwanda) location was chosen as it was better able to supply both the eastern DRC and Rwanda markets due to its strategic location on the shores of the Lake Kivu. The construction work started in November 1957.
In 1959, BRALIMA started its operations with the production of the first Primus bottle. Primus was the only beer sold in the Rwandan market until 1987.
In 1960, BRALIMA, was converted from a Congolese company into a Belgian company.
In 1963, BRALIRWA S.A.R.L. was created and incorporated as a Rwandan company.
From 1971 to 1990, HEINEKEN N.V., the international brewer, acquired a majority equity stake (70%) in the Company. With the acquisition, the Company greatly improved its brewing process. The Company diversified into the sparkling beverages business in 1974 when it started to produce The Coca-Cola Company products (i.e. Coca-Cola, Fanta & Sprite) under license.
From 1976 to 1979, the State of Rwanda acquired a 30% equity stake in the Company. The Company’s corporate history, business, and product portfolio has continued to evolve over the years with the production of its second beer Mützig, a local premium beer brand in 1987. In 1989, BRALIRWA started production of Guinness beer under license. In 1991, BRALIRWA started to import Heineken beer from the Netherlands.
In 1996, BRALIRWA was incorporated as a public company “BRALIRWA S.A.” (Reg No: RC 001/76), under the Laws of the Republic of Rwanda.
In 2001, the Company started importation of Amstel beer brand from BRARUDI in the Republic of Burundi, before it started local production of the beer in 2006.
The year 2007 marked the launch of Primus Ntoya in the 33cl bottle.
In 2008, the technical capacity at the brewery (Gisenyi) was increased with the installation of 5 additional fermentation tanks and an upgrade of the bottling line to meet the demand.
In 2009, BRALIRWA invested in a state-of-the-art Waste Water Treatment Plant in Kigali to meet the environmental requirements of the Heineken Group, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Government of Rwanda.
In 2009, the Company celebrated 50 years in existence and launched a new logo reflecting BRALIRWA’s energy and dynamism.
In June 2010, BRALIRWA S.A. was converted into a Public Limited Company (PLC) by shares and registered with the Registrar General’s Office under the company code 100004348 pursuant to the Rwandan Law relating to Companies, and is domiciled in Rwanda.
In 2010, following its investments in production capacity, improved sales execution and intensified marketing activities, the Company will record the highest sales volume ever in its history with an expected volume of at least 1.3 million hectoliters of beer and sparkling beverages.
Today, BRALIRWA is one of the largest companies and the highest taxpayer in Rwanda. The Company estimates that it has approximately 94% market share of the commercial beer market in Rwanda and 99% of the sparkling beverages market in Rwanda.