May
Alvaro – Redbull – Malta Guiness
Written by Shiko
Make a statement without saying a word – this aptly describes East African Brewery’s new kid on the block Alvaro. In it’s stylish green bottle, it has an outstanding sophisticated look synonymous with the 24-35 age group for whom it’s targeted.
Produced in pineapple and pear flavours, Alvaro seems to have hit the market with a bang with sales having already jumped to three times above the projected trends. In pubs and supermarkets the drink is said to be flying off the shelves. The high sales are not just from the excitement of a new drink but also from the fact that in complete departure from it’s elder brother Malta Guiness, Alvaro is great tasting, crisp and refreshing. And the price was a pleasant surprise. I bought it for 25 bob at Nakumatt. I’m yet to see it at the local shop though. If shopkeepers embrace it then Coca Cola who are known for not so ethical business practices may be in some trouble. And I hope they have plans to introduce a canned version some time in the future. The idea of returnable bottles is so last century.
The introduction of Alvaro will create more than 100 direct jobs, plus of course thousands of indirect ones – a sure plus for present Kenya. And what could any venture be without Equity Bank these days. In a partnership with EABL, the bank which has caused chills down the spines of other established banks will step in to finance specific distributors of Alvaro.
Malta Guinness on the other hand I believe is an experiment gone horribly awry. Like the scientists gave up on it before they completed the process and put it in the market anyway. The first and last time I tasted it, I was done with in on sip one. But I had to finish all my money’s worth. By the time I took the last sip I was ready to sue for extended trauma. It has a thick sickening taste like molasses dissolved in water or something like that. Try it warm, cold, ice cold, chilled – it’s still the same thing. Sorry Malta.
In my opinion the other drink that may feel the heat from Alvaro is Redbull. A lot of people don’t drink Redbull because they’re badly in need of a tourine fix. Nor do they drink it because they’re so dead tired they need an immediate energy boost. It’s the refreshing crispiness of a chilled Redbull that does the magic. And maybe the class that goes with having a few Redbulls sitting in the fridge
By acolyte on May 28, 2008
I recall Red Bull being super expensive, is it still being sold at around 120/= per can in the super markets?
By Wanjiku Unlimited on May 28, 2008
Acolyte Redbull is still very expensive. It’s normal price is in the range of 100/= bob in supermarkets but in some pubs and clubs you get it even at 180/- to 200/=That’s why I’ll be drinking Alvaro with a vengeance. Acolyte you’re not in Kenya right? When you come back make sure you sample it. It’s mzuri.
By 3nspeaks on May 28, 2008
does Alvaro taste anything like a Tusker Malt because if it does then I will be consuming rounds and rounds of it in Dec.That business of selling Red Bull for 150 uthid me sana…I tried to quench me thirst on Jega bombs and it was proving to be kidogo expe coz of Red Bull at a high price.but nothing can beat a bottle of water I bought once for 175
By Kirima on May 28, 2008
I think EABL is overwhelmed by the success of Alvaro it is impossible to get it outside Nairobi. I take RedBull for the fix you never need to take more than 2 in a night unless you need to be overhyper so the cost is manageableYou are spot on with Malta. Aaaaaargh!
By Sayra on May 28, 2008
Shiko i couldn’t agree more on alvaro. For sure coke are in trouble and am seeing one of those interesting corporate fights. This time things might be a bit hard for them to conduct their not so ethical business practices … this is eabl we are talking abt not schweppes or picana.Lol on malta. Luckly for me i was tasting someone elses drink so i didnt have to like maliza the whole thing … and that was the last time i tasted it. Whenever i see it, it always reminds me of ‘shukari nguru’.
By Wanjiku Unlimited on May 28, 2008
aii 3N no Alvaro does not taste anything like Tusker Malt. It’s tending more towards Redds or Smirnoff Ice in sweetness only it’s non-alcoholic. Refreshing is the word for it. Eh that 175 bob water, ama ni zile za Madonna za Kabala? Lol.Kirima true, if you’re not taking too much of Redbull then the cost is manageable . And I must say a chilled Redbull too is real magic.Sayra haki coke, sometime back I heard they bought truckloads of empty bottles belonging to Softa and crushed them into little pieces. You’re right with EABL such things may not be easy.
By Sayra on May 28, 2008
Yah, that is what they did and it was very expensive for softa. And they also used to buy most of the softa in the market, such that when u go to ask for one in ur kiosk its not there. That gave softa the false impression that they are selling … alafu u jua with customers they will only ask ur product for a while … and if they are always told its not there, eventually they will stop asking. From there you can guess what happened next ……And those are the dirty tricks the so called international companies play on the local companies.
By Wanjiku Unlimited on May 28, 2008
Woishe softa. Is it still around or did Coke kill it?Now I hear Coke is bribing shopkeepers not to stock Alvaro. The ideas that come out of these board rooms!!
By Sayra on May 28, 2008
Thankfully they are still around.By the way, am wondering, that cash they are using for bribing … where is it included in their profit & loss statements? … coz its a lot of cash man?Do they usually have a place where they say this amt was used for bribes ama what name is it given?Just wondering.
By Kirima on May 30, 2008
I see that cocacola has decided to engage EABL in an all out war in the Energy Drinks market with the launch of Burn. More choices for the consumer!
By Nairobian Perspective on May 30, 2008
Hi Wanjiku, im much honored to be in your blogroll!by the way another tip check out blogvertise.com, they are much more legit than bloggerwave,when it comes to paypal, ati Kenyans can only send money and not receive-thats quite unfair, i have to use my bro’s email address in the states!
By BP ONE on May 30, 2008
EABL and the idea of selling no-alcoholic soft drinks are oxymoron. The idea sounds to me more or less like a drunk preaching at the church or a mosque, There is something wary about the whole idea. EABL is worldly known for making beer, I don’t know how they intend to capture the soft drink market. For your information the alvero, just like Malta Guinness ,is malt based http://www.propertykenya.com/news/529879-cobrand! . I just think they have tricked people with the pineapple and pear flavor this time round. About the Malta Guinness , Shiko you are right… it is not only an “experiment gone horribly awry “ as you said earlier but also a health risks see link http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/7/57.
By Anonymous on Jun 27, 2008
bp one..like wanjiku mentioned..alvaro might be malt based-just like Malta..difference is that it actually tastes good! Now problem is that our ever-profit-hungry bar owners have hiked it’s price to that of a normal beer-yani 120/=…damn!
By Anonymous on Jun 30, 2008
Anyone interested… I’m coming up to Nairobi from Cape Town on Thursday to do some research on this brand. And am looking for a spunky, articulate, connected somebody to help with translating. Will pay. . . mail me: darrel@the-cia.co.za
By woolie on Aug 4, 2011
Far from drowsing this is a most interesting post 3 years on. How has Alvaro fared in the harsh economic times? The US and other Western countries are getting tough on companies engaged in corruption and bribery overseas as the recent case involving Macmillan publishing In South Sudan showed. Coca Cola Kenya are you listening?
By Shiko-Msa on Aug 29, 2011
Woolie I don’t know how Alvaro is faring. As for me I don’t take it any more. Soon as the excitos of the newness was gone, suddenly I thought it had too much sugar and too much gas. Fickle humans we are!
By Ghafla!Kenya on Sep 27, 2011
Alvaro is doing quite below par at the moment…people went back to Coke as soon as the hype died down.