Craft brewery: Rwanda’s untapped sector?

In a groundbreaking move, Kweza Craft Brewery has recently opened its doors in Kigali, Rwanda, marking the first craft brewery in the country. The journey of Kweza Brewery dates back to 2016 when a Rwandan female entrepreneur partnered with a Canadian brewery with the vision to establish a women-led craft brewery in Rwanda. Though the project faced obstacles along the way, the torch was passed to Jessi Flynn, the current Managing Director of Kweza Brewery, who took on the challenge to revive and propel the venture forward. Flynn, in a recent interview with CNBC Africa, shared insights into the brewery's origins, its dedication to using locally sourced ingredients, and its plans for expansion. The brewery's core focus has been on developing recipes that incorporate local products, with a majority of their beer crafted from sorghum, and other variants like ginger beer utilizing 100% locally sourced ingredients. In addition to alcoholic beverages, Kweza Brewery also produces non-alcoholic sodas using locally sourced components as part of its commitment to supporting local farmers and suppliers. Kweza Brewery officially obtained licensing in 2021 and commenced commercial sales in 2022, with Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Kigali being their first commercial client. Currently, the brewery is in the process of transitioning from its pilot facility to a larger microbrewery, gearing up for increased production to meet the growing demand for its products. At present, Kweza Brewery can produce 40 liters at a time or 80 liters per day, which is insufficient to cater to the market demand. With a long waiting list of potential clients, the brewery's forthcoming system upgrade will enable it to produce 1,000 liters per batch, with the aim of reaching between 30,000 to 45,000 liters per month in the next five years. The envisioned growth will entail overcoming various challenges like fermentation times and other bottlenecks, all part of Kweza Brewery's strategic trajectory towards becoming a key player in Rwanda's brewing industry. The journey of establishing Kweza Brewery has been fueled by private equity investments, with a strong focus on inviting diverse investors, particularly women and people of color, to participate and benefit from the brewery's success. The CEO of Microsoft Corporation was one of the initial investors who believed in the vision of the brewery, providing the necessary capital to kickstart the project. The brewery's mission goes beyond producing craft beer; it serves as a platform to empower underrepresented groups in the global brewing industry, where ownership and leadership opportunities for women and people of color are currently scarce. As Kweza Brewery continues to expand its operations and attract more investors, it stands as a beacon of change and inclusivity in an industry dominated by homogeneity. With a commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and economic empowerment, Kweza Brewery is set to redefine the landscape of brewing in Rwanda and beyond.