Stephen Chadenga
Popular Gweru-based traditional beer brand, Go Beer has made in-roads in Lower Gweru, an area which has for years been dominated by brands from Bulawayo Breweries, The Blast has established.
In an interview, Go Beer Breweries Public Relations and Administration Manager, Marie-Anne Matandirotya said the beer concern had recorded a remarkable shift in “consumer uptake and demand for Go Beer” in Lower Gweru.
“The increase in volumes from this region demonstrates growing consumer confidence in our brand and reflects the strength of our distribution and market penetration efforts,”Matandirotya said.
“As Go Beer continues to establish itself in Lower Gweru, we remain focused on delivering a superior customer experience and ensuring consistent product availability to meet the growing demand.”
Matandirotya said despite the on-off economic challenges faced by the company (just like many other companies in the country) the beer product was increasingly becoming a brand of choice not only in Gweru but in the Midlands region as a whole.
“The growth is a positive indication that Go Beer is increasingly becoming a brand of choice across the markets we serve,”she said.
In a snap survey by this publication in Lower Gweru, retail owners and imbibers said they were happy that Go Beer had made its mark in the area.
“We are quite happy and would want to commend Go Beer for reaching out to Lower Gweru,”a retailer, Dumi Nyathi said.
” Before Go Beer came we were increasingly facing a shortage of traditional beer brands as those that used to supply us longer satisfied the market.”
An imbiber, Jairos Sibanda said some drinkers were turning to illicit brews because of shortage of sorghum beer brands in the area.
“Some were turning to illicit high alcohol content products that obviously affect health but now that Go Beer is here we have confidence this would be a thing of the past,”Sibanda said.
Go Beer Chief Executive Edward Rusike has on many occasions said the beer company would work tirelessly to make its visibility in Midlands region markets and beyond.
“The government’s support has provided a conducive environment for sustainable community development and we are proud to play our part in building the nation,”Rusike said then, during the re-opening and commissioning of the brewery in 2024.
The beer entity boasts of brands such as one-litre Shikisha shake shake, Go 5 (five litres), Chihera (Go two litres) as well as Go 2 (two litres).