Raya Brewery, not only quality, but also socially responsible company

By Tesfay G.
Tigrai Online, February 11, 2017

During my more than two decades of tenure in the academia and as business management instructor, one of the areas which I strongly advocate for is the essence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 

In the 21^st century business, product and service quality, price and on time delivery are not the only determinant factors to ensure for a company to successfully compete in the dynamic market.  Nowadays, with the flourishing of thousands of companies producing and supplying similar products to the market, consumers are becoming much more conscious and demanding not only on the quality of the final product, but also on the quality of the raw materials from which the final product is produced and on the company’s endeavor to minimize negative social and environmental impacts.

Therefore, to be competitive and to stay in the market, some businesses have set a policy on what their roles should be in the fulfillment of their societal and environmental responsibilities besides to their financial goals.  These businesses are called Socially Responsible Enterprises.

Before a couple of weeks, I have got the chance of visiting Raya Brewery Plant along with a group of about 150 people including men and women and coming from different areas in Tigrai.  The plant is located in Mychew town of Tigrai at about 120 km. distance from Mekelle town on the main road to Addis Ababa.

Raya Brewery Sh. Co., established in 2012 is the only brewery plant with more than 50% share by Ethiopians and one of the latest entrants to the Ethiopian Brewery industry with the state-of-the-art technology in its production and quality control processes. 

The plant is equipped with brand new state-of-the-art brewing technology of internationally known brands.   After plant commissioning and trial production in March 2015, Raya Brewery has become one of the major players in the rapidly developing and highly competitive Ethiopian Brewery Market.

Plant tour was organized with detailed explanation on each and every process including: the high-tech machineries and equipment used to check and control the quality standards of the raw material inputs: barley, hops (Gesho) and water. 

From product quality aspect, the plant is equipped with state-of-the-art machineries used in the production process including: fully computerized and hi-tech technology to regularly check on the cleanness and for automatically cleaning the cylos and all the drums and pipelines as per the installed schedule; which gives you a confidence on the safety of the beer. The quality laboratory is also equipped with the latest lab equipments that are used to check and control the important parameters of the product. 

Raya Beers claim on its quality is also being complemented by RateBeer, one of the most-visited sources for beer information and in rating the different brands of beer in different countries.  Accordingly, in its recent publication regarding the Best Beers brewed in Ethiopia, Raya Beer, the latest entrant to the market is rated third.  For details, you may visit the recent Ethiopian Beer Rating at  https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/country/ethiopia/68/

From environmental aspect, the plant is designed to comply with the environment in which it is equipped with the necessary water treatment, recycling and re-use system; and with energy conservation mechanisms.

During our factory visit, we are briefed by the company’s CEO on the company’s vision and mission in general on its business philosophy with regard to its corporate social responsibility in particular.  In the year 2008 Eth. Cal.; the company has donated a total of Birr 42 million (about 1.9 million USD) for different community based rehabilitation and development programmes in the areas of health, education, sport and rehabilitation programemes.

In a nutshell, I have witnessed, and it is true that “Raya Brewery is by the people, from the people and to the people.” 

Thank you Raya Brewery!!!

Eternal honour and glory to our martyrs!