Lao Brewery Company

Founded in 1971, the Lao Brewery Company was at that time a joint-venture between French and Lao businessmen. It took up production in 1973 with a capacity of 3 million litres per year.[2] The company, then called Brasseries et Glacières du Laos (BGL), marketed Bière Larue for the local market and "33" export for export (to countries in Indochina).

With the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Laos in 1975, the company was nationalised and obtained the status of a state-owned enterprise.[2] It marketed its beer first under the Bière Lao, brand then (early 1995) as Beerlao. Their brand "33" export was marketed till 1990, and Bière Larue until 1995.

In the wake of the 1986 economic reform program, which initiated a transition from central planning to a market economy and the launching of the New Economic Mechanism (NEM), the LBC in 1993 entered into a joint venture: 49% Lao government-owned with 51% foreign investment (Loxley: 25.5%[3] and Italian: 25.5%) with a production capacity of 20 million litres per year and employing 300 workers.[2]

In 2002, the foreign investors withdrew their shares from LBC, and the Lao government regained total control of the company. Subsequently, Carlsberg and TCC, a Thai company which was Carlsberg's partner in Thailand, each acquired a 25% share in LBC. The remaining shares are still held by the government of Laos. The maximum capacity at that time was 60 million litres.

In 2005, the company increased its annual production capacity to 85 million litres, and in 2007 to 160 million litres. It now has about 500 employees. Recently, a new factory was opened in Pakse with a capacity of 100 million litres per year.

In 2005, ownership changed once again with the Lao government still owning 50% and the remaining 50% owned by Carlsberg.

All machinery is imported from Europe. The company processes locally grown rice and imports malted barley from France and Belgium, and hops and yeast from Germany.

Tigerhead and Beerlao for sale in Vientiane

The company produces and markets 3 types of beer under the Beerlao brand (Beerlao Lager, Beerlao Gold, and Beerlao Dark), Lanexang lager and locally brewed Carlsberg lager. It also produces and markets bottled drinking water under the Tigerhead brand.[2][4]

LBC claims it has a 99% local beer market share.[5] Beerlao is exported to a dozen countries, but the export figures are still modest, though increasing.

Some Beerlao products (like Tigerhead water) are presented as they have been awarded several times with Gold Quality Awards at the World Quality Selections, organised yearly by Monde Selection but there is no mention of it on the official website .[6]

• Official site