Cuca (beer)
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Predecessor | Central de Cervejas (subsidiary) |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder | Companhia União de Cervejas de Angola (CUCA) |
| Headquarters | Luanda and Catumbela , Angola |
| Products | Beer |
| Owner | Castel Group |
Cuca—also referred to as Cuca BGI—is a beer brand manufactured by Companhia União de Cervejas de Angola ("United Beer Company of Angola") located in Angola.
History
Established in 1947, during the era when Angola was under Portuguese rule, Cuca originated as CUCA - Companhia União de Cervejas de Angola, SARL. It began with an initial investment of 5,000 contos and functioned as a subsidiary of the Portuguese brewery Central de Cervejas.
After Angola gained independence, the government took ownership of Cuca on May 26, 1976, through the Commission for Restructuring the brewing industry.
Presently, the brand is under the ownership of the French Castel Group. Production occurs in both Luanda and Catumbela, within Benguela province, where the Benguela facility has a daily output capacity of 60,000 bars.
Foreign exports
Cuca's distribution extends beyond Angolan borders to countries such as Portugal, Mozambique, the United States, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.
In Namibia
Despite being prohibited in Namibia from the mid-1970s until the 1980s, Cuca remained commonly accessible in northern areas like Ovamboland and Kavango. Establishments known locally as "Cuca shops" emerged as politically influential around the time of Namibian independence. The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance reportedly leveraged complimentary beer promotions in these venues to garner voter support.