Brazilian beer
Encyclopedia
Brazil
is the world's fourth largest market for beer
with over 88 million barrels produced in 2010 and annual per capita consumption of 53.3 litres.
, Rio de Janeiro
. Actually, Bohemia is the oldest Brazilian beer which is still under production (now owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev
). Naturally, many breweries appeared and disappeared in that period like Ritter from Rio Grande do Sul
and Imperial Fábrica de Cerveja Nacional from Rio de Janeiro
. Two important brands, Antarctica and Brahma
, started production in the 1880s.
beers are the most consumed in Brazil (98% of the market share), with only a limited choice of other kinds.
The majority of the market belongs to AmBev
, the owner of the Brahma, Antarctica, Bohemia and Skol
brands. Brazil's largest brewer was formed in 1999 from the merger of the two biggest brands, Brahma and Antarctica. In 2004, Ambev merged with Belgium's Interbrew
(Stella Artois
, Becks, Staropramen
and many others) to form the world's largest brewer, now known as InBev
. After the merger, Grupo Schincariol became the largest Brazilian-owned brewery in the country.
In 2002, Molson Coors bought Brazil's second largest brewery Kaiser. In 2006, the Mexican FEMSA Cerveza acquired 68% of Kaiser Brewery from Molson Coors. Molson Coors still holds 15% of Kaiser brewery shares, and Heineken holds the remaining 17%. In 2006, FEMSA Cerveza released the Mexican brand Sol in the Brazilian market to compete to the biggest Inbev brands with poor results. In 2010, Heineken bought all FEMSA's brewery including the Brazilian unit.
There are a number of microbreweries in Brazil, the emergence of which are a relatively recent phenomenon. Some of the better renowned microbreweries include;
Over the past decade or so Brazil has imported more and more brands of beer from Europe (particularly from Belgium) and the USA. These imports are a lot more expensive than locally brewed beers. However, there are a growing number of bars and beer shops dedicating themselves to selling a large range of craft and imported beer.
Some international brands are actually produced in Brazil, such as Stella Artois
and Heineken
, but all are dedicated to the premium market with very small market share.
Market share in 2009:
Ambev (Inbev) (70%),
Grupo Schincariol (11,6%),
Petrópolis brewery
(9,8%),
Heineken (6,9%),
others (1,73%).
Most popular brands in 2005:
Skol (32,6%),
Brahma (20,4%),
Antarctica (13,6%),
Nova Schin (10,2%),
Kaiser (8,9%).
and FEMSA
compete strongly for market share.
period there is an explosion in consumption. In these 4 days, 400 million liters (or around 4% of the yearly production) are consumed. In November with the approach of summer, the manufacture and investment in marketing
triples.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
is the world's fourth largest market for beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
with over 88 million barrels produced in 2010 and annual per capita consumption of 53.3 litres.
History
The tradition of brewing in Brazil dates back to German immigration in the early nineteenth century. The first breweries date from the 1830s, although the brand Bohemia is claimed to be the first Brazilian beer, with production starting in 1853 in the city of PetrópolisPetrópolis
Petrópolis , also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 65 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro....
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
. Actually, Bohemia is the oldest Brazilian beer which is still under production (now owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev
Anheuser–Busch InBev
Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V. is a Belgian-Brazilian publicly-traded company, based in Leuven, Belgium. It is the largest global brewer with nearly 25% global market share and one of the world's top five consumer products companies by EBITA....
). Naturally, many breweries appeared and disappeared in that period like Ritter from Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
and Imperial Fábrica de Cerveja Nacional from Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. Two important brands, Antarctica and Brahma
Brahma (beer)
Brahma is a Brazilian beer, originally made by the Companhia Cervejaria Brahma which was founded in 1888. The brands are now owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev, formed by a merger between Anheuser–Busch and InBev...
, started production in the 1880s.
The market
PilsenerPilsener
Pilsner is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the city of Pilsen , Bohemia, in today's Czech Republic, where it has been developed since 1842, when a bottom-fermented beer was first produced. The original Pilsner Urquell beer is produced there today.-Origin:Until the mid-1840s, most ...
beers are the most consumed in Brazil (98% of the market share), with only a limited choice of other kinds.
The majority of the market belongs to AmBev
AmBev
Ambev formally Companhia de Bebidas das Américas is a subsidiary of global brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev and is the biggest brewery in South America and the fifth in the world...
, the owner of the Brahma, Antarctica, Bohemia and Skol
Skol
Skol was initially created to be a global beer brand. Allied Breweries , Labatt , Pripps-Bryggerierna and Unibra formed a new company called Skol International in 1964. Its aim was the creation of a world-wide beer brand, Skol, which could be licensed, manufactured and marketed across the world...
brands. Brazil's largest brewer was formed in 1999 from the merger of the two biggest brands, Brahma and Antarctica. In 2004, Ambev merged with Belgium's Interbrew
Interbrew
Interbrew was a large Belgium-based brewing company which owned many internationally known beers, as well as some smaller local beers. In 2004 Interbrew merged with Brazilian brewer AmBev to form InBev, which is the now largest brewer in the world by volume, with a 13% global market share now...
(Stella Artois
Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:...
, Becks, Staropramen
Staropramen
Staropramen Brewery is the second largest brewery in the Czech Republic, situated in the Smíchov district of Prague. It was founded in 1869 and the brand name Staropramen, literally meaning “old spring,” was registered in 1911...
and many others) to form the world's largest brewer, now known as InBev
InBev
InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...
. After the merger, Grupo Schincariol became the largest Brazilian-owned brewery in the country.
In 2002, Molson Coors bought Brazil's second largest brewery Kaiser. In 2006, the Mexican FEMSA Cerveza acquired 68% of Kaiser Brewery from Molson Coors. Molson Coors still holds 15% of Kaiser brewery shares, and Heineken holds the remaining 17%. In 2006, FEMSA Cerveza released the Mexican brand Sol in the Brazilian market to compete to the biggest Inbev brands with poor results. In 2010, Heineken bought all FEMSA's brewery including the Brazilian unit.
There are a number of microbreweries in Brazil, the emergence of which are a relatively recent phenomenon. Some of the better renowned microbreweries include;
- Baden Baden (Recognised as the first microbrewery in Brazil)
- EisenbahnEisenbahnEisenbahn is a microbrewery located in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. It produces beer and draft beer following the Reinheitsgebot, with a quite variety of flavours and fermentations. The name is an analogy to an old railroad station, that was close to the building now used by the company as a...
- Wäls
- Colorado
- DaDo Bier
Over the past decade or so Brazil has imported more and more brands of beer from Europe (particularly from Belgium) and the USA. These imports are a lot more expensive than locally brewed beers. However, there are a growing number of bars and beer shops dedicating themselves to selling a large range of craft and imported beer.
Some international brands are actually produced in Brazil, such as Stella Artois
Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a 5% ABV lager brewed in Leuven, Belgium since 1926. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand a 4% ABV version is also available.-Production:...
and Heineken
Heineken
Heineken is a Dutch beer which has been brewed by Heineken International since 1873. It is available in a 4.6% alcohol variety in countries such as Ireland. It is the flagship product of the Heineken company and is made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. In 1886 H...
, but all are dedicated to the premium market with very small market share.
Market share in 2009:
Ambev (Inbev) (70%),
Grupo Schincariol (11,6%),
Petrópolis brewery
Petrópolis brewery
-Beer:The brewery produces a range of lagers and other beers under the brand names Itaipava, Crystal, Lokai, Black Princess, and Petra.-External links:**...
(9,8%),
Heineken (6,9%),
others (1,73%).
Most popular brands in 2005:
Skol (32,6%),
Brahma (20,4%),
Antarctica (13,6%),
Nova Schin (10,2%),
Kaiser (8,9%).
Economy
Beer is the most competitive sector of the alcoholic drinks market in Brazil, and the big global beer companies like InBevInBev
InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...
and FEMSA
FEMSA
FEMSA is the largest beverage company in Mexico and in Latin America and as of September 2011 also the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the world. FEMSA originated as the Cuauhtémoc Brewery in 1890, which, through debt management, was restructured as FEMSA in 1988...
compete strongly for market share.
Carnival
In the Brazilian CarnivalBrazilian Carnival
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
period there is an explosion in consumption. In these 4 days, 400 million liters (or around 4% of the yearly production) are consumed. In November with the approach of summer, the manufacture and investment in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
triples.