China. Beer moves to premium

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Millward Brown and WPP have released the 6th annual BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands ranking and report. There are four main Chinese beer brands in the chart this year. Unfortunately, their positions decreased year-on-year.

Beer consumption grew at a weak pace, at least for the mass product, probably impacted by the slowdown in GDP growth and even rainy weather. Although the Internet grew as a beer sales channel, the beer market remained relatively regional and fragmented.

At the same time, strong demand for premium brands continued, reflecting the broader consumer shift to quality. As Chinese brands added premium offerings gains, depressed oil prices also helped enhance airline profitability. Despite these improvements airlines continued to score low in RepZ, the BrandZ™ measurement of corporate reputation.

CR Snow first began brewing Snow Beer in 1994. Today, the Snow Beer product range is brewed under a joint venture between China Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd, a SOE (State Owned Enterprise), and SABMiller.
CR Snow first began brewing Snow Beer in 1994. Today, the Snow Beer product range is brewed under a joint venture between China Resources Beer Holdings Co Ltd, a SOE (State Owned Enterprise), and SABMiller.

Snow Beer introduced more premium variations. Although not well known outside of China, Snow Beer leads the world in total consumption. Tsingtao Beer faced pressure because of its mid-market positioning and its large exposure in restaurants, where government efforts to retrain extravagance impacted sales.

Founded by German and British settlers in 1903, and one of China’s oldest beer brands, Tsingtao Beer is distributed to more than 80 countries and regions. The company is listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges.
Founded by German and British settlers in 1903, and one of China’s oldest beer brands, Tsingtao Beer is distributed to more than 80 countries and regions. The company is listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges.

Harbin Beer, one of the oldest breweries in the north, successfully increased popularity. Pearl River, especially strong in the south, in Guangdong province, grew sales, but costs increased.

Founded by a Russian businessman in 1900, Harbin Brewery Group Ltd is one of the oldest beer companies in China. After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Harbin became one of the beer giants in northeast China. In 2004, Harbin Brewery was bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Founded by a Russian businessman in 1900, Harbin Brewery Group Ltd is one of the oldest beer companies in China. After the foundation of the People’s Republic of China, Harbin became one of the beer giants in northeast China. In 2004, Harbin Brewery was bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Despite weaker volume growth, Yanjing Beer continued to dominate in Beijing and certain central and western regions. It is the only Chinese brand without a foreign partner, such as AB-InBev or SABMiller.

One of China’s largest beer brands, Yanjing Beer was named for the ancient capital that occupied the area now known as Beijing. The brand leads the market in Beijing and is strong in the Guangxi and Hunan provinces and Inner Mongolia. It’s exported to over 20 countries. The Beijing Yanjing Brewery Company was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1997.
One of China’s largest beer brands, Yanjing Beer was named for the ancient capital that occupied the area now known as Beijing. The brand leads the market in Beijing and is strong in the Guangxi and Hunan provinces and Inner Mongolia. It’s exported to over 20 countries. The Beijing Yanjing Brewery Company was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1997.

The planned merger of the giant global brewers would consolidate market share and raise antitrust issues that could affect brands like Snow Beer, jointly held by SABMiller and China Resources Enterprises, a state-owned company.

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