Beer South Africa

Head Office: The South African Breweries Limited, Johannesburg, South Africa

The South African Breweries Ltd (SAB) was SABMiller’s original brewing company. Founded in 1895, SAB operates seven breweries in South Africa and has a portfolio of nine beer brands and two fruit alcoholic beverages (FABs).

Beer now represents almost 60% of the total alcohol market in South Africa, up from about 38% in 1980. The largest category, the mainstream segment, includes Castle Lager, Castle Milk Stout, Hansa Pilsener and Carling Black Label. The fast growing worthmore segment features premium beers such as Miller Genuine Draft, Amstel Lager and Pilsner Urquell, while SAB’s other beer brands, Castle Lite and Sterling Light Lager are positioned in the light beer segment.

The FAB segment is small as a percentage of the total liquor market (about 5%) but growing at about 13% per annum, and SAB’s Redd’s and Brutal Fruit brands currently enjoy about 48% market share of this segment.

EBITA (US$m)	708
Total number of breweries	7
Total brewing capacity (hls 000s)	30,715
Total volumes sold (hls 000s)	25,912
Average number of employees	5,773

Figures current at 6 June 2005 for operations and capacity.
Volumes, EBITA and employees are for the year ended 31 March 2005.
Employee figures exclude associates.

   back to top