A recent Wall Street Journal feature story profiled Lao Brewery Co. and its Beerlao, a range of beers (lager, light beer, and dark beer) that were named by Time Magazine as Asia's best beer in 2004. Beerlao has long been a staple of backpackers and other visitors to Laos and is now available in major international markets such as the UK and Australia. The company itself was founded as a French-Lao joint venture in 1971, and today is 50% owned by Carlsberg Group of Denmark with the government of Laos owning the remaining shares. Producing 200 million liters of beer a year, the Lao Brewery is the biggest taxpayer in Laos and has the potential to become a global brand icon, putting Laos on the map. The Wall Street Journal reports:
"Lao Brewery doesn't want to come on too strong. Its marketing manager, 47-year-old Bounkanh Kounlabouth, fears that promoting Beerlao too aggressively will scare off its grass-roots following. Instead, he would rather follow Corona's example of becoming an 'accidental' brand. 'We don't want to undermine Beerlao's word-of- mouth appeal, so for us it is better to let it grow naturally.'"
The Lao Brewery Co. already has 99% of the local beer market making its international growth something to watch in the coming years...
Here is a promotional video from their website: