EWO Brewery
| Company type | Public (after 1940) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd |
| Headquarters | Shanghai , China |
| Products | Pilsner and Munich-style beers |
The EWO Brewery Ltd. was established in 1935 in Shanghai, China by Jardine, Matheson & Co. Ltd, a prominent trading firm operating throughout the Far East. Brewing operations commenced in 1936, and by 1940, Ewo Breweries transitioned into a publicly traded company with Chinese investors holding 75% ownership. Situated in Shanghai's Yangpu District, the brewery was occupied by Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), yet it continued production despite wartime challenges.
The brewery specialized primarily in Pilsner and Munich-style beers, designed to suit the regional climate of the Far East.
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, regulatory changes introduced in 1950 imposed higher taxes, limited currency conversion, and prohibited workforce reductions. These measures compelled the brewery to reduce prices by 17%, which led to annual deficits amounting to $4 million.
In March 1952, chairman Robin Gordon was detained by Chinese officials due to unpaid wages owed to 240 employees but was soon released.
Jardines withdrew from China in 1954, divesting EWO Brewery at a financial loss. The site was renamed Huaguang Brewery (), producing labels such as "Shanghai Seagull" () and "Guangming" (). Presently, the original brewery premises are under the ownership of Japanese brewing company Suntory.