EABL And Keroche Go At Each Other’s Throat Over Bottles

The war between the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and Keroche is as old as the two companies.

At one time, Keroche blamed EABL for buying all Keroche beers just to make sure that they don’t hit the market.

The two companies, EABL and Keroche, are at war again, this time over bottles of beer. Keroche Breweries has taken EABL to court accusing it of mopping up bottles with an aim of driving them out of business.

Keroche Breweries is accusing EABL of collecting brown beer bottles and marking them with their EABL initials to make sure that no other company uses them.

Keroche’s Summit beer bottles are similar to those of White Cap and Balozi brands, produced by EABL making it easier for the two companies to exchange bottles.

The High Court has since directed the two beer companies to stop running adverts in the mainstream media about their bottles. In December 2019, EABL has issued a notice through the media saying that it was the rightful owner of bottled and crates with EABL initials.

Keroche Breweries followed with another advert in the same month accusing EABL of taking advantage of its dominance to want to drive them out of business.

Distributors of beer now say that allowing EABL exclusive rights to brown beer bottles is unreasonable and a move that will affect competition on the market.

The beer industry is one of the most profitable industries in Kenya with Kenyans blowing billions annually to have a drink. The only sector that challenged the beer sector was the gaming industry that has since gone down after the exit of SportPesa.

EABL is the major beer manufacturer and distributor both in Kenya and the East African region. In Kenya, Keroche Breweries is coming up and giving EABL a run for their money.

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