South Africa 
Overview
The South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd. (SAB) is South Africa’s leading producer and distributor of lager and soft drinks. It also exports brands for distribution across Namibia. Our soft drinks division is South Africa’s leading producer of products for The Coca-Cola Company. We have hotel and gaming interests through our associate Tsogo Sun Holdings Ltd, the largest hotel and gaming group in South Africa.
Regional office: Johannesburg, South Africa.
Quarterly divisional seminar
February 2012
Hosted by Norman Adami, Chairman, SABMiller Beverages South Africa
Norman Adami
Chairman,
SABMiller Beverages South Africa
Vital statistics
- 1895
Year of investment
- 1,1681
EBITA (US$m)
- 7
Total number of breweries
- 6
Total number of bottling plants
- 11,9392
Total average number of employees
Total volumes sold (hl 000)
- 26,859
Lager beer
- 17,979
Soft drinks
- 1,565
Other alcoholic beverages
- Website
- Contacts
- Careers
Brand portfolio
Key brands
- Castle Lite,
- Hansa Marzen Gold,
- Castle Milk Stout,
- Miller Genuine Draft,
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro,
- Pilsner Urquell,
- Brutal Fruit,
- Redd’s,
- Sarita,
- Grolsch,
- Dreher Premium
Flavoured alcoholic beverages
- Sarita Ruby Dry,
- Sarita Select,
- Skelter's Straight
View and download images which capture the unique aspects of this market by visiting our image library.
Soft drinks brand portfolio
- Coca-cola,
- Coca-Cola Light,
- Coca-Cola Zero,
- Tab,
- Sprite,
- Sprite Zero,
- Fanta,
- Fanta Zero,
- Sparletta,
- Stoney,
- Iron Brew,
- Schweppes,
- Twist,
- Valpre,
- Bonaqua,
- Powerade,
- Powerplay,
- Appletiser,
- Nestea
Soft drinks report
Read our soft drinks report to find out how our operations extend beyond brewing
History 1895-2012
- 1895
-
South Africa Breweries (SAB) founded.
- 1896
-
The first bar is erected on company land in central Johannesburg.
- 1897
-
SAB is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- 1898
-
SAB is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1902
-
Capital invested doubles to £2 million, a record for any non-mining company in South Africa.
- 1925
-
SAB acquires a stake in Schweppes sparkling beverages.
- 1950
-
SAB head office and seat of control moves from London to Johannesburg.
- 1953
-
Work begins on new Castle Brewery site in Isando, east of Johannesburg – the largest brewhouse in Africa and one of the most modern in the world.
- 1960
-
SAB extends its involvement in the liquor industry by acquiring control of Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery.
- 1963
-
SAB establishes a corporate identity for itself with its new head office on Braamfontein Ridge.
- 1964
-
SAB granted licence to brew Guinness in South Africa – the first company outside Ireland accorded this right.
- 1970
-
SAB opens South Africa's first sparkling beverage canning plant and launches the Groovy range to a receptive market.
- 1978
-
SAB publishes a code of non-discriminatory employment – a first in the country.
- 1989
-
Da Gama Textiles Company, one of the largest textile manufacturers in South Africa, joins the SAB fold.
- 1995
-
State President Nelson Mandela opens SAB's Centenary Centre in the cultural precinct of Johannesburg.
- 1999
-
SAB begins to invest in the rapidly growing gaming industry in South Africa.
- 2002
-
SABMiller plc and Tsogo Investment Holding Company announce landmark Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transaction, transferring both companies' hotel and gaming interests into a new company, Tsogo Sun Holdings Limited.
- 2003
-
Mahlasedi Taverner Programme launched in support of the normalisation of the retail liquor trade. This ongoing programme aims to support the licensing of previously illegal shebeens thereby creating 60,000 to 80,000 sustainable businesses and some 300,000 to 450,000 formal jobs whilst encouraging responsibility in terms of the National Liquor Act.
- 2003
-
SABMiller and Tsogo Investments merge their activities to form the Tsogo Sun Group, one of the largest hotel and gaming groups in South Africa.
- 2006
-
Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the beer with unmistakable Italian style, is launched in South Africa.
- 2007
-
Hansa Marzen Gold launched
- 2008
-
Dutch heritage brand Grolsch and Dreher Premium are introduced to the South African market.
- 2009
-
SABMiller announces a proposed broad-based black economic empowerment transaction in South Africa.
- 2012
-
The South African Breweries Ltd became The South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd, recognising its status as a private company under the Companies Act 71 of 2008.
News
- Teenagers Urged Not to Compromise Future by Drinking Alcohol. 10 Jun 13
- SAB Delivers Another Year of Strong Growth in Revenue and Profit to End March 2013. 23 May 13
- Celebrate the Value of True Friendship with Pilsen Callao. 17 May 13
- SAB Kickstart 2013 Offers Young Entrepreneurs a Share of R6-Million. 04 Apr 13
- Tackling the Challenges of Drunk Driving. 15 Mar 13
Alcohol responsibility
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
SAB Ltd have partnered with FASfacts, a local NGO based in South Africa to address the issue of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a set of physical and mental birth defects that result from a mother drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Read the Foetal Alcohol Syndrome alcohol responsibility case study
Sustainable development
Project Promote
The current HIV/Aids epidemic is one of the worst health crises facing us today. Although regional prevalence rates vary, South Africa has the largest number of HIV positive people in the world at approximately 5.7 million people.