Lion Beer named ‘Export Brand of the Year’ at SLIM Awards 2022

From left: Piyum Jayatilaka, Marketing Manager, Singer Sri Lanka, Nilupul De Silva, General Manager Marketing Revello, CBL Foods International, Gayan Perera, VP Events, SLIM presenting the award to Kineta Fernandez, Brand Executive Local Power Brands, Sharina Bandaranayake, Assistant Vice President Local Power Brands and Muaaz Rafeek, Brand Executive International Business

• Grows geographic footprint through distribution, availability and visibility

Lion Brewery has been named the ‘Export Brand of the Year’. 

The award honours the business that has worked most purposefully, strategically and successfully with their brand in expanding into geographic markets and through significant and sustained export sales, and where the brand is documented and anchored in the company. 

The company won the award at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2022 held on December 8th which celebrates extraordinary success in creative and effective messaging and results by businesses throughout the year. 
The awards are judged by senior marketers representing a cross-section of industries in Sri Lanka. Lion Brewery was represented by Ruchira Money, Vice President Marketing Planning & NPD, Sharina Bandaranayake, Assistant Vice President Local Power Brands, Muaaz Rafeek, Brand Executive International Business, and Kineta Fernandez, Brand Executive Local 
Power Brands.

With its unique values and world-class quality, Lion Brewery’s growing geographic footprint in the international beer market is delivering sustainable growth and margin to the business and supply chain. The Lion portfolio is now available in over 37 markets with exports revenue recording a CAGR of 41.6 percent over the past five years and YoY exports revenue growth a sizeable 47 percent for the financial year ended 31st March 2022.

Revenue contribution from exports to the company also marked a 36.3 percent YoY growth and recorded a CAGR of 23 percent over the past five years. During the year, the company grew its share in the larger food & beverage exports category by 29 bps, while increasing by 114 bps over the past five years.

Lion Brewery’s strategy includes growing the brands’ and company’s presence through distribution, availability and visibility and developing winning propositions in fast-growing segments. Consumer and trade marketing initiatives in the UK, Canada, Oman, Qatar, and Kenya,and developing and strengthening partnerships with top tier distributors such as Canada’s top beer distribution channel The Beer Store, and Duty Free terminals in Oman, Qatar and UAE, highlights the brand’s quality credentials, building awareness and image.