[News Release] "KAGUA" expands overseas operations to the UK and Taiwan
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Nippon Craft Beer Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shiro Yamada) will begin selling its Japanese-flavored ale, "KAGUA," in the UK and Taiwan.
We began selling "KAGUA" in Hong Kong and Singapore in September 2012, and in Thailand in November 2013, and the UK and Taiwan expansion brings the total number of countries where we have expanded our business to five. The UK will also be the first European country for "KAGUA."
Traditionally, ale-type (top-fermented) beers such as "KAGUA" have dominated the UK, and they are very popular. There is also a high level of interest in craft beer, and the country is also home to a large number of high-end Japanese restaurants. "KAGUA" will now be sold through London-based "Harro Foods Limited." The company is an importer of Japanese ingredients, and has many high-end Japanese restaurant clients throughout the UK, mainly in London.
Furthermore, Taiwan is one of the Asian countries with many tourists visiting Japan, and Japanese food is extremely popular and has a mature food culture. In Taiwan, we have chosen local company Kwang Hung International as our sales partner. As a craft beer importer, Kwang Hung International imports carefully selected craft beers from around the world and sells them to restaurants and hotels in Taiwan. KAGUA is a particularly high-end product in Kwang Hung International's portfolio and will be sold primarily to high-end establishments.
The UK will be KAGUA's first European market, and Taiwan will be its fourth Asian market. Taking advantage of the current popularity of Japanese food, KAGUA aims to expand its sales channels, focusing on high-end Japanese restaurants.
Nippon Craft Beer Co., Ltd. will continue to strive to further expand its business in Asia, Europe, North America, and other countries around the world, and to provide the high-quality value of "KAGUA" to more customers.
"KAGUA" Sales Overview
<UK>
- Sales start: February 2014
- Products on sale: "KAGUA" White, "KAGUA" Rouge
- Local sales partner: Harro Foods Limited
- Sales target: High-end restaurants including Japanese restaurants, bars, and hotels
<Taiwan>
- Sales start: March 2014
- Products on sale: "KAGUA" White, "KAGUA" Rouge
- Local sales partner: Kwang Hung International
- Sales target: high-end restaurants, bars, hotels
There are two varieties in the lineup: "Blanc," a light-colored, top-fermented beer made with wheat, and "Rouge," a dark-colored, top-fermented beer made with roasted malt.A major feature of these beers is that they can be enjoyed with different dishes, just like white and red wines.
Our products are sold in famous and popular restaurants that have been awarded stars in the Michelin Guide, as well as luxury hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong and Singapore.
*Since "KAGUA" uses yuzu and sansho pepper, it is classified as a happoshu (low-malt beer) under Japan's liquor tax law.
*Although it is a happoshu, the malt ratio and manufacturing method are the same as beer, and it is taxed at the same rate as beer. Furthermore, according to the standards of many countries, including Belgium, where it is produced, "KAGUA" is classified as beer, so it is sold as beer in overseas markets.
About Japan Craft Beer Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2011 with the mission of "Deliver the best beer throughout the world, to as many people as possible" - delivering beer that complements the Japanese dining table to the world. Currently, under the flagship brand "KAGUA," we are working to promote Japanese beer brands around the world with two lineups, Blanc and Rouge.
[Website] http://www.nipponcraftbeer.com/
[facebook] http://www.facebook.com/kagua.beer/
[twitter] http://twitter.com/kaguabeer/