Cambrew Brewery

Cambrew Brewery is a Cambodian brewing company based in Sihanoukville. It is widely identified with Angkor Beer, one of Cambodia’s best-known beer brands and the country’s most broadly consumed beer according to the reference material. The brewery also produces or has produced Klang Beer, Bayon Beer, Angkor Extra Stout, Black Panther Premium Stout and Carlsberg Draught. Its business is centered on brewing, packaging and distributing beer in Cambodia, with its portfolio spanning pale lager, stronger lager, stout and pilsner styles. The brewery’s origins date to the early 1960s, when the Cambodian government commissioned SKD Brewery, or Société des Khmere Distilleries. A French contractor built the facility with technical assistance from France, and the plant officially opened in 1965. The site was selected in Sihanoukville partly because of the perceived suitability of the local water’s mineral composition for brewing. Its location also created logistical controversy because the brewery was far from a bottle-manufacturing facility near Phnom Penh. The facility is notable not only for its industrial role but also for its architecture. Its main office was designed by Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann during the country’s New Khmer Architecture period. The building uses a distinctive form in which the upper floor projects beyond the lower level, supported by prominent triangular structural elements. This architectural heritage gives the brewery a place in the material history of modern Cambodia as well as in the country’s consumer-goods sector. Civil war disrupted operations in the early 1970s, and the brewery closed in 1975. In 1991, Malaysian company Cambrew Ltd assumed control. After approximately nine months of refurbishment, production restarted in 1992. That year, Cambrew also entered a joint venture with PepsiCo for bottling and distributing soft drinks in Cambodia, expanding its activities beyond beer for a period. Carlsberg became a strategic investor in 2005 by acquiring a 50 percent holding. Its ownership increased to 75 percent in 2018, followed by the acquisition of full ownership on 1 November 2019. The brewery is consequently part of Carlsberg’s Cambodian business and is also described as Carlsberg Cambodia. The ownership transition connected a historically Cambodian production site and local beer portfolio with the distribution, brewing and brand-management resources of a major international brewer. Product recognition has included awards from Monde Selection of Belgium. Angkor Extra Stout received a Grand Gold award in 2011, while Angkor Premium Beer received a Gold Medal in 2013. These awards supported the positioning of parts of the portfolio beyond mass-market lager, although Angkor Premium Beer remains the company’s central consumer-facing product in the available reference material. Cambrew has also faced labor-rights scrutiny. A Danwatch investigation reported allegations involving women working as beer sellers, including claimed discouragement from union participation, insecure short-term contracts, lost days off and fear of dismissal. The reporting also situated these allegations within broader concerns in the Cambodian beer-promotion sector, such as low pay, customer harassment and precarious employment. Carlsberg stated in response that it does not accept interference with workers’ ability to organize and that removing legally mandated days off as punishment would conflict with labor law and company policy.

Cambrew’s industrial predecessor was SKD Brewery, short for Société des Khmere Distilleries. The Cambodian government commissioned the brewery in the early 1960s, with construction carried out by a French contractor and technical support provided by France. The plant was officially opened in 1965 by Prince Norodom Sihanouk in Sihanoukville. The location was selected in part because the area’s water was regarded as suitable for brewing, although the distance from the bottle-manufacturing plant near Phnom Penh created logistical debate. The brewery’s main office is an important example of Cambodia’s New Khmer Architecture. Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann designed the building with a projecting upper floor and prominent triangular supports, a form associated with the period’s effort to create a modern architectural language rooted in local conditions. Early production included lager sold under the Angkor Beer and Bayon Beer names. Civil war interrupted the brewery’s operations during the early 1970s. The facility eventually closed in 1975. In 1991, Malaysian company Cambrew Ltd took control of the brewery and undertook a refurbishment lasting roughly nine months. Production resumed in 1992. Cambrew also entered a joint venture with PepsiCo in 1992 to bottle and distribute soft drinks in Cambodia, giving the business a temporary presence outside brewing. Carlsberg Group acquired a 50 percent interest in the brewery in 2005. Under Carlsberg’s involvement, the brewery continued developing the Angkor portfolio and other beer products. Angkor Extra Stout received Monde Selection’s Grand Gold award in 2011, and Angkor Premium Beer received a Gold Medal from the same organization in 2013. Carlsberg expanded its ownership to 75 percent in 2018. On 1 November 2019, it acquired the remaining shares and obtained full ownership. Cambrew is therefore associated with Carlsberg Cambodia while retaining a portfolio built around Cambodian brands, especially Angkor Beer. The company’s labor practices and the wider Cambodian beer-selling sector have also attracted scrutiny. Danwatch reported allegations concerning union participation, short-term employment, days off and job security among women selling beer. The report additionally described low pay, sexual harassment by customers and insecure work as broader sector concerns. Carlsberg said it did not support interference with workers’ right to organize and that withholding legally required leave would be inconsistent with its policies and Cambodian labor law.

1. 2019Carlsberg takes full ownership

   Carlsberg acquired the remaining interest on 1 November 2019.

   Source
2. 2018Carlsberg raises its stake to 75 percent

   Carlsberg increased its ownership of Cambrew from 50 percent to 75 percent.

   Source
3. 2013Angkor Premium Beer receives a Monde Selection Gold Medal

   Angkor Premium Beer received a Gold Medal from Monde Selection.

   Source
4. 2011Angkor Extra Stout receives a Monde Selection Grand Gold award

   Angkor Extra Stout was recognized with the Grand Gold award from Monde Selection of Belgium.

   Source
5. 2005Carlsberg acquires a 50 percent stake

   Carlsberg Group became a half-owner of the brewery.

   Source
6. 2000Black Panther Premium Stout introduced

   Black Panther Premium Stout was introduced as an 8 percent alcohol stout.

   Source
7. 1992Production resumes

   After about nine months of refurbishment, brewing restarted. Cambrew also formed a PepsiCo joint venture for soft-drink bottling and distribution.

   Source
8. 1991Cambrew Ltd assumes control

   Malaysian company Cambrew Ltd took control of the brewery and began a major refurbishment.

   Source
9. 1975Brewery closes amid civil-war disruption

   Operations were disrupted during the civil-war period and the brewery closed in 1975.

   Source
10. 1965SKD Brewery opens in Sihanoukville

    The government-commissioned SKD Brewery officially opened after construction by a French contractor with French technical assistance.

    Source

A Cambodian beer producer combining a nationally prominent local lager franchise with specialty stout and lager offerings under Carlsberg ownership.

• Angkor Premium BeerPale lager

  Cambrew’s principal Angkor-branded lager and one of Cambodia’s most widely consumed beers. It is listed at 5.0 percent alcohol by volume and has been sold in 330 ml cans, 330 ml bottles and 640 ml bottles. The product received a Monde Selection Gold Medal in 2013.

• Angkor Extra StoutExtra stout

  A stronger dark-beer entry in the Angkor portfolio, listed at 8.0 percent alcohol by volume. It has been offered in 330 ml and 640 ml bottles. Its recognition includes Monde Selection’s Grand Gold award in 2011.

• Klang BeerStrong lager

  A strong lager listed at 6.0 percent alcohol by volume and sold in 330 ml cans. Klang extends Cambrew’s portfolio beyond standard-strength pale lager into a stronger, more intense lager format.

• Bayon BeerPale lager

  A pale lager named after Cambodia’s Bayon temples near Siem Reap. Reference material describes it as brewed in Sihanoukville using traditional processes, with a smooth and hoppy aroma and an alcohol range reported around 5.0 to 5.2 percent. It is listed in a 330 ml can format.

• Black Panther Premium StoutStout2000

  A stout introduced in 2000 and listed at 8.0 percent alcohol by volume. It is sold in a 330 ml can and is described as having a pronounced malt aroma.

• Carlsberg DraughtPilsner

  A Carlsberg-branded pilsner produced or distributed within Cambrew’s Cambodian portfolio. It is listed at 5.0 percent alcohol by volume.

• 2019Carlsberg completes acquisition of CambrewM&A

  After increasing its stake to 75 percent in 2018, Carlsberg pursued complete control of the brewery.

  What changed. On 1 November 2019, Carlsberg acquired the remaining interest and became Cambrew’s full owner.

  Aftermath. Cambrew became fully integrated into Carlsberg’s Cambodian business while continuing to produce its established local beer portfolio.

  Source
• 2018Carlsberg increases its Cambrew stakeM&A

  Carlsberg had held a 50 percent interest in the Cambodian brewery since 2005.

  What changed. Carlsberg increased its ownership to 75 percent.

  Aftermath. The move preceded Carlsberg’s acquisition of full ownership the following year.

  Source

• Allegations concerning beer sellers’ labor rightsControversy

  A Danwatch investigation described allegations that women selling beer in Cambodia were discouraged from joining trade unions and experienced insecure contracts, lost days off and pressure from managers. The report also discussed low pay and customer harassment in the wider beer-selling sector. Carlsberg said it does not accept interference with workers’ organizing rights and that withholding legal leave would breach company policy and labor law.

• 2019Carlsberg acquires full ownership of Cambrew

  On 1 November 2019, Carlsberg completed the acquisition of the remaining interest and became the brewery’s sole owner.

  M&A
  Source
• 2018Carlsberg increases its ownership of Cambrew to 75 percent

  Carlsberg increased its stake in Cambrew Brewery from 50 percent to 75 percent, strengthening its control of the Cambodian brewer.

  M&A
  Source

1. Cambrew Brewery