Cerveza Quilmes
| Industry | Beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1890 in Quilmes, Argentina |
| Founder | Otto Bemberg |
| Headquarters | Quilmes , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Central America, U.S., Spain, Israel, France, UK, Italy, Australia |
| Products | Beer, bottled water, soft drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, wines |
| Owner | AmBev (since 2002) |
| Parent | AmBev |
Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes () is a beverage company from Argentina, founded in 1890 in Quilmes, part of Greater Buenos Aires. The brewery was created by Otto Bemberg, a German immigrant, initially focusing on beer production.[1] Since 2002, ownership of Quilmes has belonged to AmBev, recognized as the largest beer producer worldwide.[2]
Quilmes' portfolio extends beyond beer to include bottled water, soft drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, and wines. These products are marketed under diverse brands—some directly owned by parent company Ambev and others licensed from companies such as PepsiCo and Nestlé.[3]
Throughout its history, the company has brewed a variety of beer types, including low-alcohol, bock, stout, lager, red lager, and pilsner. Quilmes continues to hold the position as Argentina's leading beer producer.[4]
History
In 1890, immigrant entrepreneur Otto Bemberg founded a brewery in Quilmes, Argentina. The brand name Quilmes was inspired by the indigenous name of the city. In 1918, the company financed the construction of a hospital in Quilmes.
By the 1920s, Quilmes had risen to become the most favored beer brand in Buenos Aires and has maintained approximately a 75% share of the Argentine beer market since then. The company also sponsored the Argentina national football team, incorporating Argentina's light blue and white flag colors into its labels.[5]
The company introduced Liberty, Argentina's inaugural non-alcoholic beer, in 1993, followed by Quilmes Light in 1997. By 1998, Quilmes had begun exporting products to the U.S. and European markets. In 1999, it acquired Baesa, which was Argentina's largest bottling facility for Pepsi.[2]
In 2002, Brazilian brewing giant Ambev—formed from the merger of Brahma and Antarctica—purchased a 37.5% share in Quilmes for US$600 million, thereby securing control over the brand within Argentina. This acquisition briefly positioned them as the third largest beverage producer globally.[6]
By 2005, Quilmes operated multiple facilities located in Quilmes, Zárate, Tres Arroyos, Corrientes, Tucumán, and Mendoza. Its distribution network reached countries including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Central America, the U.S., Spain, Israel, France, the UK, Italy, and Australia. Annual production volumes were around 17 million hL of beer and 8 million hL of soft drinks.
In 2006, AmBev raised its ownership stake to over 91%, acquiring full control of Quilmes for US$1.2 billion. Since 2002, total investment had reached US$1.8 billion.[7]
In February 2020, Quilmes diversified into winemaking by purchasing Dante Robino winery located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.[2]
Products and brands
As of , Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes produces and distributes the following beverage lines:
| Category | Brands |
|---|---|
| Beer | Quilmes, Patagonia, Brahma[note 1], Stella Artois[note 1], Andes, Corona[note 1], Budweiser[note 1] |
| Mineral water | Eco de los Andes, Glaciar, Nestlé[note 2], Awafrut[note 2] |
| Soft drink | Pepsi[note 3], 7 Up[note 3], Mirinda[note 3], Paso de los Toros[note 3], H2OH![note 3], Guaraná[note 1] |
| Sport drink | Gatorade[note 3] |
| Energy drink | Red Bull[note 4] |
| Wine | Dante Robino |
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