In Nigeria, the non-alcoholic malt drink category makes up a large percentage of volume and revenue of many breweries. Malt drinks are produced similar to beer, except it’s not fermented.
These drinks contain no alcohol however, are popular in Nigeria. As well as many other parts of the African continent. The cost of setting up large brewery is out of the reach of most African investors.
However, going smaller, following the worldwide craft beer trends. Allows an investor to more easily enter the industry as non-alcoholic malt drinks producer.
Although, the covid-19 pandemic has adversely effected the beer industry in many countries. It’s not stopped investment in craft brewing. The first microbrewery in Lagos, Nigeria opened February this year.
The growth in craft breweries around the world has accelerated innovation. Especially in the development of equipment and machinery for the brewing sector. Leading to a reduction in costs when setting up a microbrewery with onsite bottling and canning lines.
Small two vessel brewhouse already pre-installed on a skid
Furthermore, packaging equipment manufactures are now producing small high-quality plants for beverage products. These includes automatic bottling and canning lines. Which can produce as little as 500 to 1000 bottles/cans per hour.
Innovation in small tunnel pasteurizers, bath pasteurizers, small returnable bottle washers and labelers. Make the process affordable and in reach of those on a tight budget.
African investors can now take advantage of these developments in the Craft Brewing Sector. To invest in microbreweries producing non-alcoholic malt drinks.
How Much Does It Cost?
Start-up capital can be as little as a US$200,000 investment. To acquire the machinery for a plant capable of delivering 1,200,000 liters a year, packaged into both glass bottles and cans.
Drink production can be further streamlined using of a mash filter. Instead of the regular lauter tun for mash filtration. A mash filter allows more batches to be produced per day thus making the plant more productive.
In Nigeria, you’re able to produce your non-alcoholic malt drink in generic packaging. This will save a prospective investor funds on startup. The costs involved if you use your own bottle mold is expensive as well as time consuming.
Plain standard 330ml Can Generic 330ml Malt Bottle in Nigeria
Furthermore, MOQ (minimum order quantities) for unique bottles are usually too high for smaller scale producers. Instead opting for generic bottles, also used by other breweries makes sense. Bottle suppliers allow lower MOQ for generic bottle types as well.
Furthermore, using plain cans instead of printed cans makes sense too. Plain cans can be labelled with shrink sleeve labels or self-adhesive labels. Using plain cans allows small producers to invest less in running capital and stock compared to printed cans.
Non-Alcoholic Malt Drink Industry – Need Help Getting Started?
Investors, interested in the non-alcoholic malt drink industry can reach out me. I’m Mr. Oladapo Loto of Applied Brewing Solutions in Lagos, Nigeria to discuss further on:
+23 480 2448 9508
Or feel free to email me at:
Applied Brewing Solutions will work with investors to set up the factory or brewery providing services such as:
- Suppliers sourcing
- Managing relationships with equipment suppliers
- Supervision of installation and commissioning
- Liquid products development (product recipe development)
- Standard operating procedures in production and quality management
As well as recruitment and training of technical staff.
You can check my Linkedin profile on https://www.linkedin.com/in/oladapo-loto-b047838
Plus follow me on twitter on @oladapoloto.
Thanks for your time and have a good day.
Oladapo
