KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 26): Japan’s Kirin Brewery has launched its Southeast Asian headquarters in Malaysia as part of an expansion beyond its shrinking home market, Nikkei Asia reported.
The new company in Kuala Lumpur, which will start operations next month, will be created by spinning off the regional alcoholic drinks business of parent Kirin Holdings’ Singapore office, the Japanese financial news giant said.
“We will quickly gather local needs and make swift decisions on launching products…and marketing campaigns,” Hideki Horiguchi, Kirin Brewery’s president and CEO, was quoted as saying by Nikkei Asia.
Any sales of alcoholic products in Malaysia and Brunei will have to contend with strict laws and regulations, including a ban on Muslim from consuming or buying the intoxicants.
Malaysia and Singapore also have one of the world’s highest excise duties on beers.
Kirin Brewery is considering launching a ready-to-drink cocktail called Hyoketsu in Southeast Asia, where it already sells its products such as beer exported from its facilities in Japan and China, Nikkei Asia said.
AloJapan.com