Dutch brewer Heineken said on Thursday that it plans to double current production capacity at its newly opened Brassivoire brewery in Ivory Coast by next year with the aim of going head-to-head with French beverage giant Castel which currently dominates the Ivorian beer market.
Beer consumption in Ivory Coast has risen since the end of a decade-long political crisis in 2011. Castel dominates the beer market with its popular Castel, Flag and Solibra Bock brands.
Heineken officially opened its Ivorian brewery, Brassivoire, a joint-venture partnership between the Dutch brewer and CFAO.
The event was graced by top Ivorian government officials, including the Vice President, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan and the Prime Minister, Mr. Amadou Gon Coulibaly. Also in attendance were the CEO of Heineken, Mr. Jean-Francois van Boxmeer and representatives of CFAO, among others.
Heineken N.V on Monday unveiled the first beer brewed in its new Brassivoire brewery in Ivory Coast even though the plant won’t open until 2017.
The Dutch brewer partnered with French trading firm CFAO to build a new brewery in Abidjan at a cost of 100 billion CFA francs ($172m). The deal was first announced last year with Heineken holding 51% stake in the joint-venture to CFAOs 49%.
