Cheers! SAB grows market share with Corona, Stella and old favourite Carling

South African Breweries (SAB) is delivering record results, according to parent company AB InBev’s fourth quarter and full year figures.

AB InBev said their core beer portfolio in SA continued to outperform in the 2023 financial year, with revenue growing by the high-teens in the fourth quarter.

Corona and Stella Artois drove volume for global brands, with growth of more than 30%.

While these two brands are on fire, Carling Black Label is SAB's biggest seller at the moment says CEO Richard (Boris) Rivett-Carnac.

"Interestingly, Castle has been our biggest brand in the past as has Lion Lager, as has Hansa Pilsener... so they do move around, but Black Label is currently by far our biggest brand."

Richard Rivett-Carnac, CEO - South African Breweries

He concurs that the popularity of Carling is very much driven by marketing, specifically on 'mega' platforms like, for instance, the former Carling Cup.

"I think consumers love the liquid; it's award winning, and the positioning really resonates."

Richard Rivett-Carnac, CEO - South African Breweries

Stella and Corona are doing very well in the premium segment, for different reasons, Rivett-Carnac says.

However, Budweiser hasn't been the success they'd wanted it to be, he adds.

As a result SAB's focus, time and investment in this space is now directed much more towards Stella and Corona.