SAN MIGUEL BEER THROUGHOUT HISTORY
1890
La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel was founded under a Royal Grant from Spain, by Don Enrique Ma. Barretto y de Ycaza. The brewery opened at Numero 6, Calzada de Malacañang (also called Calle Aviles and later renamed J. P. Laurel St.) in the San Miguel district of Manila.
1895
Exhibiting passion for quality early on, San Miguel won its first award as a product of the highest excellence in the Exposicion Regional de Filipinas, earning the title “Pride of the Pacific.”
1914
San Miguel began its entry into foreign markets by exporting from its base in Manila to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guam.
1937
Following the repeal of the Prohibition in the US in the 1930s, San Miguel set off to the West and acquired holdings in US companies in Missouri and Texas, allowing San Miguel to be brewed for the US mainland market and making San Miguel the first Asian brewery to operate in North America. Holdings in the US companies were eventually sold in 1949 and 1956.
1948
San Miguel’s bold, pioneering efforts saw its entry in the Hong Kong market via the acquisition of Hong Kong Brewery, its second brewery overseas.
1949
San Miguel delivered its initial shipment of Pale Pilsen to Hawaii in the latter part of 1949. However, there were accounts that San Miguel Beer was already served earlier through the US Armed Forces Commissary during World War II. Export shipments of San Miguel from SMBHK were made to Okinawa and Guam in 1949.
1950
First large shipment of San Miguel Pale Pilsen for the daily use ofthe contingent of the Philippine Armed Forces was made to serve the United Nations’ campaign in Korea.
1953
San Miguel signed the “Manila Agreement”, paving the way for the creation of a new brewery, La Segarra, S.A., in Lerida, Spain. Malting operations would later commence in 1956
1957
Brewing operations began in La Segarra, S.A., renamed as San Miguel Fabricas de Cerveza y Malta, S.A. in the same year. The Spanish company was an affiliate of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. which initially held 20% equity share via its Hong Kong subsidiary. The equity holdings reached as high as 31.2% before ownership in the Spanish brewer was fully divested in 1983.
1950’s
By the 1950s, San Miguel was made available in Pan-Am Flights and at the International Room of the then world-famous new San Francisco InternationalAirport Lounge. Later on, the brand would participate in New York’s beer fair. The 1950s also saw the launch of San Miguel Draught in Hong Kong while export markets expanded to Japan and Korea.
1964
San Miguel built a plant in Malaga, Spain. Another plant isestablished in Burgos four years later.
1969
San Miguel Brewing Company (Guam), Inc.was setup. Inaugurated in 1971, it was Guam’s first brewery and had a production capacity of 1 million cases per year. Operations ended in 1976.
1970
San Miguel set up an office in Papua New Guinea to serve as the company’s base in the country prior to San Miguel’s acquisition of Papua New Guinea Brewery in 1974.
1972
San Miguel entered the Indonesia beer market, setting up a brewery at Bekasi, West Java in a joint venture with the West Java provincial government. Operations ended when PT San Miguel Brewery Indonesia was divested in 1983.
1974
San Miguel gained full control of Papua New Guinea Brewery Pty. Ltd. In 1983, San Miguel sold all its stake in the brewery to South Pacific Brewery Ltd.
1985
San Miguel Philippines and San Miguel Spain forged an agreement on territories following the Philippine company’s divestment of its ownership from the Spanish brewer in 1983. The Spanish brewer was granted trademark rights in Europe and selected Mediterranean countries while the Philippines’ San Miguel Corporation remained the owner and authorized user of the San Miguel trademark for the rest of the world: Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australia.
1986
Exports of San Miguel brand non-alcoholic beverages, both Dark and Pale were first shipped to Saudi Arabia.
1988
San Miguel Beer invested in Mt. Everest Brewery (Pvt.) for the production of San Miguel in Nepal. In 1998, a licensing agreement was signed with the company, which allowed Mt. Everest Brewery to continue production of San Miguel until 2003. Licensed brewing of San Miguel Beer was transferred to Gorkha Brewery in 2004.
A long-neck version of the local San Miguel beer bottle called “Largo” was launched in the US.
1991
San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. (SMBIL) was established in 1991 to capitalize on the rapidly growing economies and thriving beer markets in the Asia-Pacific.
San Miguel started the first of its two joint venture operations with local partners in Guangdong Province, China. The first, Guangzhou San Miguel Brewery (GSMB), began operations in 1991, with 70% owned by San Miguel.
1993
San Miguel acquired PT Delta Djakarta (PTD) in Indonesia.
San Miguel established its sales office in Taiwan, allowing San Miguel Beer to be imported from the Philippines after Taiwan lifted ban on beer importation.
1994
Realizing China’s huge growth potential, the company set up a brewery in Hebei Province, China to gain presence in the north region. San Miguel Baoding Brewery Ltd. (SMBB) was established by San Miguel (China) Investment Co. Ltd. PRC (with 70% stake) and partner Hebei Bada Group Co., Ltd. In 2000, San Miguel acquired 25% equity interest of Hebei Bada Group, as well as the Blue Star brand. Three years later, San Miguel purchased the remaining interest of the partner, making SMBB a wholly owned subsidiary.
San Miguel started its second joint venture operations in Guangdong Province, China, with San Miguel Guangdong Brewery Ltd. (SMGB). SMGB became operational in 1996. In 2003, San Miguel Shunde Holdings acquired the interests held by its local partner and the Dragon brand. Currently, SMGB is 100% owned by San Miguel Shunde Holdings.
1995
San Miguel acquired a brewery in Vietnam, paving the way for the creation of San Miguel Brewery Vietnam Ltd. (SMBVL) in March 1995, a joint venture between San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. and Khanh Hoa Brewing Corp. SMBIL assumed full ownership of SMBVL in 1996.
1996
Signed a licensing agreement with Shepherd Neame for the Sun Lik brand in 1996 for the UK and Northern Ireland. The agreement was renewed in 2006 and 2016 for another 10 years.
SMBHK relocated brewery operations from Sham Tsengto Yuen Long Industrial Estate.
Pacific Beverages is incorporated as a joint venture with San Miguel Corporation for the distribution of San Miguel beer brands in Singapore. In 2002, Pacific Beverages bought out the shares of SMC while continuing to be the sole distributor of San Miguel in the country.
1998
Signed a licensing agreement with Associated Breweries and Distillers Pvt. Ltd. for the production and distribution of San Miguel Beer in India. The agreement was later discontinued when the United Breweries group acquired Associated Breweries and Distillers in 2000.
2000
Acquired J. Boag & Sons in Australia.The premium brewer was eventually sold to Kirin Holdings-owned Lion Nathan Ltd. in 2007.
2004
SMB entered the Thailand beer market with the acquisition of the Thai Amarit Brewery in June. Operations begin December of the same year.
Began brewing San Miguel Beer under license in Nepal through Gorkha Brewery, now a member of the Carlsberg Group.
2008
In September 2008, San Miguel signed a sales and distribution agreement, paving the way for San Miguel’s entry into Cambodia’s beer market in January 2009.After that agreement ended in 2015, San Miguel signed a new distribution agreement for the sale and marketing of San Miguel brands in Cambodia.
2014
San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. and Mahou San Miguel sign a cooperation agreementwith the intent to further strengthen San Miguel’s global footprint.
SAN MIGUEL BEER THROUGHOUT HISTORY
1890
La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel was founded under a Royal Grant from Spain, by Don Enrique Ma. Barretto y de Ycaza. The brewery opened at Numero 6, Calzada de Malacañang (also called Calle Aviles and later renamed J. P. Laurel St.) in the San Miguel district of Manila.
1895
Exhibiting passion for quality early on, San Miguel won its first award as a product of the highest excellence in the Exposicion Regional de Filipinas, earning the title “Pride of the Pacific.”
1914
San Miguel began its entry into foreign markets by exporting from its base in Manila to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guam.
1937
Following the repeal of the Prohibition in the US in the 1930s, San Miguel set off to the West and acquired holdings in US companies in Missouri and Texas, allowing San Miguel to be brewed for the US mainland market and making San Miguel the first Asian brewery to operate in North America. Holdings in the US companies were eventually sold in 1949 and 1956.
1948
San Miguel’s bold, pioneering efforts saw its entry in the Hong Kong market via the acquisition of Hong Kong Brewery, its second brewery overseas.
1949
San Miguel delivered its initial shipment of Pale Pilsen to Hawaii in the latter part of 1949. However, there were accounts that San Miguel Beer was already served earlier through the US Armed Forces Commissary during World War II. Export shipments of San Miguel from SMBHK were made to Okinawa and Guam in 1949.
1950
First large shipment of San Miguel Pale Pilsen for the daily use ofthe contingent of the Philippine Armed Forces was made to serve the United Nations’ campaign in Korea.
1953
San Miguel signed the “Manila Agreement”, paving the way for the creation of a new brewery, La Segarra, S.A., in Lerida, Spain. Malting operations would later commence in 1956
1957
Brewing operations began in La Segarra, S.A., renamed as San Miguel Fabricas de Cerveza y Malta, S.A. in the same year. The Spanish company was an affiliate of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. which initially held 20% equity share via its Hong Kong subsidiary. The equity holdings reached as high as 31.2% before ownership in the Spanish brewer was fully divested in 1983.
1950’s
By the 1950s, San Miguel was made available in Pan-Am Flights and at the International Room of the then world-famous new San Francisco InternationalAirport Lounge. Later on, the brand would participate in New York’s beer fair. The 1950s also saw the launch of San Miguel Draught in Hong Kong while export markets expanded to Japan and Korea.
1964
San Miguel built a plant in Malaga, Spain. Another plant isestablished in Burgos four years later.
1969
San Miguel Brewing Company (Guam), Inc.was setup. Inaugurated in 1971, it was Guam’s first brewery and had a production capacity of 1 million cases per year. Operations ended in 1976.
1970
San Miguel set up an office in Papua New Guinea to serve as the company’s base in the country prior to San Miguel’s acquisition of Papua New Guinea Brewery in 1974.
1972
San Miguel entered the Indonesia beer market, setting up a brewery at Bekasi, West Java in a joint venture with the West Java provincial government. Operations ended when PT San Miguel Brewery Indonesia was divested in 1983.
1974
San Miguel gained full control of Papua New Guinea Brewery Pty. Ltd. In 1983, San Miguel sold all its stake in the brewery to South Pacific Brewery Ltd.
1985
San Miguel Philippines and San Miguel Spain forged an agreement on territories following the Philippine company’s divestment of its ownership from the Spanish brewer in 1983. The Spanish brewer was granted trademark rights in Europe and selected Mediterranean countries while the Philippines’ San Miguel Corporation remained the owner and authorized user of the San Miguel trademark for the rest of the world: Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australia.
1986
Exports of San Miguel brand non-alcoholic beverages, both Dark and Pale were first shipped to Saudi Arabia.
1988
San Miguel Beer invested in Mt. Everest Brewery (Pvt.) for the production of San Miguel in Nepal. In 1998, a licensing agreement was signed with the company, which allowed Mt. Everest Brewery to continue production of San Miguel until 2003. Licensed brewing of San Miguel Beer was transferred to Gorkha Brewery in 2004.
A long-neck version of the local San Miguel beer bottle called “Largo” was launched in the US.
1991
San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. (SMBIL) was established in 1991 to capitalize on the rapidly growing economies and thriving beer markets in the Asia-Pacific.
San Miguel started the first of its two joint venture operations with local partners in Guangdong Province, China. The first, Guangzhou San Miguel Brewery (GSMB), began operations in 1991, with 70% owned by San Miguel.
1993
San Miguel acquired PT Delta Djakarta (PTD) in Indonesia.
San Miguel established its sales office in Taiwan, allowing San Miguel Beer to be imported from the Philippines after Taiwan lifted ban on beer importation.
1994
Realizing China’s huge growth potential, the company set up a brewery in Hebei Province, China to gain presence in the north region. San Miguel Baoding Brewery Ltd. (SMBB) was established by San Miguel (China) Investment Co. Ltd. PRC (with 70% stake) and partner Hebei Bada Group Co., Ltd. In 2000, San Miguel acquired 25% equity interest of Hebei Bada Group, as well as the Blue Star brand. Three years later, San Miguel purchased the remaining interest of the partner, making SMBB a wholly owned subsidiary.
San Miguel started its second joint venture operations in Guangdong Province, China, with San Miguel Guangdong Brewery Ltd. (SMGB). SMGB became operational in 1996. In 2003, San Miguel Shunde Holdings acquired the interests held by its local partner and the Dragon brand. Currently, SMGB is 100% owned by San Miguel Shunde Holdings.
1995
San Miguel acquired a brewery in Vietnam, paving the way for the creation of San Miguel Brewery Vietnam Ltd. (SMBVL) in March 1995, a joint venture between San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. and Khanh Hoa Brewing Corp. SMBIL assumed full ownership of SMBVL in 1996.
1996
Signed a licensing agreement with Shepherd Neame for the Sun Lik brand in 1996 for the UK and Northern Ireland. The agreement was renewed in 2006 and 2016 for another 10 years.
SMBHK relocated brewery operations from Sham Tsengto Yuen Long Industrial Estate.
Pacific Beverages is incorporated as a joint venture with San Miguel Corporation for the distribution of San Miguel beer brands in Singapore. In 2002, Pacific Beverages bought out the shares of SMC while continuing to be the sole distributor of San Miguel in the country.
1998
Signed a licensing agreement with Associated Breweries and Distillers Pvt. Ltd. for the production and distribution of San Miguel Beer in India. The agreement was later discontinued when the United Breweries group acquired Associated Breweries and Distillers in 2000.
2000
Acquired J. Boag & Sons in Australia.The premium brewer was eventually sold to Kirin Holdings-owned Lion Nathan Ltd. in 2007.
2004
SMB entered the Thailand beer market with the acquisition of the Thai Amarit Brewery in June. Operations begin December of the same year.
Began brewing San Miguel Beer under license in Nepal through Gorkha Brewery, now a member of the Carlsberg Group.
2008
In September 2008, San Miguel signed a sales and distribution agreement, paving the way for San Miguel’s entry into Cambodia’s beer market in January 2009.After that agreement ended in 2015, San Miguel signed a new distribution agreement for the sale and marketing of San Miguel brands in Cambodia.
2014
San Miguel Brewing International Ltd. and Mahou San Miguel sign a cooperation agreementwith the intent to further strengthen San Miguel’s global footprint.