PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2018

BOTTLING / FILLING PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 03/18 www.petpla.net 36 Soft drinks and beer for Laos by Kay Barton Lao Brewery Company (LBC), based in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is the country’s market leader in each of the three categories in which it operates: beer, drinking water and carbonated soft drinks (CSD). LBC’s iconic beer brand, Beerlao, has the reputation of being a trustworthy beer brand, with a high profile and immediately identifiable image. Lao Brew- ery Company is a joint venture between Carlsberg Group and the Lao State. With three pro- duction facilities, it is one of the biggest companies in Laos. Currently, the company bottles some 20% of its output in PET; Beerlao packaging is currently some 75% in glass and 5% in cans. Supply Chain Director Duncan Crow took time to talk with us about how the busi- ness came into being, its technology, and the future. Lao Brewery Co., Ltd., June 29, 2017 We met: Mr Duncan Crow, Supply Chain Director The LBC head office and main brewery are separated by the wide main street in Vientiane’s business district. The office complex, on our right as we approach from downtown Vientiane, also hosts its showroom and merchandise shop of the Lao Brewery. Founded in the early 1970s as co-operative by businessmen from France and Laos, the brewery was nationalised by the government in 1975. The gradual opening up of the market for foreign investors allowed Carlsberg Group to acquire shares in the business in 2002, before it was able to form a full joint venture in 2005. In addition to Beerlao, the house beer brand, the “Tigerhead” line of water beverages has now been in existence for some 20 years and is bottled in four different pack sizes. LBC is also the market leader for drinking water, with an estimated 60% market share. The consumer prefer- ence for premium drinking water is moving towards smaller bottles, under 500ml; an aspect of the local culture is for water often to be given as a free gift, especially at festivals. Its third Filling Special Tour Sponsors: Duncan Crow sees growth especially in water and CSD. Beer Lao’s administration premises business segment is bottling Pepsi CSD products. LBC operates three production locations, two of which are located in Vientiane; the third is in the south of the country. Total annual production amounts to approximately 300 million litres of beer, 150 million litres of water and 80 million litres of soft drinks.