Beerlao caused a flutter among beer producers in Russia by being awarded the silver award at the 7 th brewery festival in Russia in only its first year of participation.
Beerlao yesterday announced yet another success on the international stage after receiving the Osiris award at a Russian beer festival, June 4-12, with the participation of more than 40 beer companies from Russia and overseas.
“This has come as a surprise to many competitors,” said Lao Brewery Company's (LBC) sales manager, Khamsone Phengrattanavong. This is the first time that Laos has participated in the event. The gold award went to Russia 's Nebskoe beer.
“Since it was our first time, we didn't prepare well and only brought a very small quantity of beer,” he said. He said that at the festival many beer drinkers were interested in Beerlao. “But we did not have much to give them,” he said.
“Our beer is now getting interest from the European market. We are foring links for export to England and we also have some orders from Germany ,” said Mr Khamsone.
Faced with a 10 percent annual increase in domestic consumption, LBC has almost reached the limit of its current production capacity of 85 million litres per year and has invested US$11 million to expand productivity to 120 million litres per year.
Increased productivity will begin in the middle of August, when the company's new facility opens. With the factory's expansion, capacity will increase about 10 percent per year in line with market demand.
However, planners estimate that by 2009, a production capacity of 120 million litres per year will be insufficient to meet national demand. The LBC is also planning to build another factory in Champassak province. This factory is estimated to cost about US$25 million, with a production capacity of 150 million litres per year. It expects to go into production in 2010.
LBC is a joint venture between the Lao government and foreign investors who specialise in beer production and distribution worldwide.
Beerlao is now exported to the USA , France , Japan , New Zealand , Cambodia , Vietnam , Canada and Australia . Beerlao products have received international recognition and awards from as far afield as New Zealand and Europe .
Beerlao also ranks as the number one company in its contributions to state revenues and in its sponsorship of sporting and other activities.