With the new investment, the Holguín factory expands its productive capacity and is committed to greater and better results
In response to the strategy to strengthen barrel activity at Cervecería Bucanero SA, a barrel delivery line was launched on June 6, considered one of the most important investments here in the last decade.
“We have classified 2024 as a year of consolidation of the recovery, after the pandemic, because our volumes fell by less than half in that period, as a consequence of the closure of foreign trade and tourist activity,” said Luis Miranda, technical director of the entity, in the presence of Alberto López Díaz, Minister of the Food Industry.
Before, the main numbers were derived from the can line, but those from the barrel line have increased, since the same, apart from traditionally directing it towards tourism, was added to gastronomy with dispensed beer and reinstalling dispensers, as a result of the pandemic stage.
The skyrocketing demand justifies expanding capacities, and taking advantage of its returnable packaging and vitality in the face of contingencies, since the cans have to be imported, with high costs in materials and transportation, and the barrels, once brought from abroad, circulate here many times, taking them to clients, and then returning them, washing and sterilizing them, in order to return them from Holguín.
Its sustainability as packaging and lower foreign exchange requirements are evident, noted the Technical Director: “We also have a growing line of bottles that, in the coming years, by investing additionally, we will also multiply.
Our main brand is Cristal beer, Cuba’s favorite, but by tradition we also have Bucanero Fuerte, Mayabe and Cacique, and Bucanero malt.
Likewise, two years ago we launched the Premium line, we relaunched Bucanero Max with new formulas and presentation, and we inserted Cristal Extra and Perla Negra malt, with greater nutritional value.
The new line, numbered 522 and valued at more than 4 million euros, was manufactured by an Italian company, in charge of the design, and together with Bucanero SA, for specific requirements. It has very modern technology, which will make it possible to deliver between 13,000 or 14,000 hectoliters (about 25,000 barrels) per month.
From now on, two barrel lines will be operated, and another one of about 20,000 hectoliters per month (about 40,000 barrels) is maintained.
«The conceptual ideas and initial feasibility studies began between 2021 and 2022, based on the growth trend of said market.
This was defined as the company’s strategy, with a staged plan to execute. The first period is now ending, as the start-up and growth in volumes is undertaken. At the beginning of 2024, we were at 270,000 hectoliters of annual production capacity in barrels and with this stage we will exceed approximately 400,000,” said Ediel Hechavarría, deputy director of Operations.
«Technologically, it meets the highest standards in the world, with automatic, mechanical and precision control equipment, which ensures the same quality in cleaning and hygiene of the barrels, as well as productive integrity and occupational safety.
Barrels will also begin to be produced in 30-liter formats, to respond to segments that require lower turnover and volumes.
Until this moment, only 50 liters had been obtained on the Island. Which will open opportunities for the client, according to their consumption,” reported Hechavarría.
The beer producer, explained Erick Williams, its general director, was built between 1987 and 1990, and since May 1997 it became a joint venture between Corporación Alimentaria SA – a corporation of the Ministry of the Food Industry of Cuba – and the Canadian entity CerbucoBrewing Inc., a subsidiary of Interbrew NV (a Belgian company), located among the largest brewing consortiums in the world.
The production of the country’s barrels began in this enclave in 1995, with technology from Europe, which was in operation until 2013, said the Deputy Director of Operations, who added that in the Caribbean region, after the investment in question, one of the More extensive operations of this type will be carried out by the Holguín brewery.
Workers of the inaugurated investment, many incorporated into the organization several months ago, received a flow of training and training, and assimilated business culture processes, and good food and technical handling practices, including foreign training of technicians responsible for the installation technological.
Likewise, some workers from the line that began operating in 2013 joined, based on their experience and distributing force in a balanced way, without weakening structures and hoping to accelerate productive commitments.
The installed equipment will then give way to another stage in which it would reach more than 600,000 hectoliters per year, planned between 2025 or 2026, when demand requires it, and underpinning the probable rebound in tourism and non-hotel clientele.
A recovery plan began in Bucanero SA between 2021 and 2022, which in 2023 already showed significant growth figures – around 40% – compared to the previous year, since they accumulated 1050,000 hectoliters.
In 2024, the aim is to achieve 1,300,000 there, which would almost place it at 2019 levels.
