The Lao Brewery Company (LBC) yesterday introduced their latest product, a new variety of beer named Lanexang, to provide beer drinkers with a wider selection.

“We have been making preparations and conducting market analysis for the release of this product since 2005, so today we're very pleased to announce another new product is ready for release,” LBC Senior Deputy Managing Director, Mr Sounthone Phommachack, said at a press conference to announce the product yesterday...more info>>

“The logo of our new beer pictures the head of an elephant. We're not concerned consumers won't recognise it as a Beerlao product just because it doesn't show our traditional tiger head logo. In fact we have plans to introduce other new products with logos featuring various national symbols,” Mr Sounthone said.

“We have ideas about introducing other products with names such as Mekong beer and That Luang beer, because these are very popular names in Laos .”

“We called the new beer Lanexang because historically Laos is referred to as ‘the land of a million elephants'. Our new product marks the company's achievement in operating for 35 years and also celebrates International Labour Day, which occurs on Thursday,” Mr Sounthone said.

The company also held a ceremony recently to mark the first sales of beer produced at its second factory, located in Nongveng village, Pathoumphon district, Champassak province. The first factory is situated at Km 12 on Thadeua Road in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane .

The company's two breweries are currently able to produce 200 million litres of beer annually.

Beerlao accounts for 99 percent of domestic beer sales and is exported to 12 countries.

The company contributes large amounts to the national budget, last year earning 500 billion kip for the government.

By Vientiane Times

Mr Vilasith Savath or Sith, 22, was announced as the first winner of the Mr Clear 2007 contest at Romeo nightclub in Vientiane on Sunday.

The event was held by the Unilever Thai Trading Ltd, a distributor of Clinic Clear Shampoo which held this event to select presenters and advertising models.

“I did not think I would win as there were so many smart-looking guys on the stage with me, but I just did my best,” Mr Sith said....more info >>

Vilasith, originally from Luang Prabang province, received a prize of 2.5 million kip, the Clinic Clear trophy 2007, a Clinic Clear gift set, and will become a promoter for the company for one year.



The runner up, Mr Santi Luangkhot or Dono, 17, was voted the Sexiest Man and received prizes worth 1.5million kip plus a Clinic Clear gift set.

The third place prize for the Most Active Man went to Mr Inthanousin Sivilaisak or Ai, 18, who received 1 million kip and a Clinic Clear gift set.



The Most Charming Guy was Mr Phongsathon Vongthavon or Billy, 20, while the Healthiest Man was Mr Vixayaphone Phoneseua or Gig, 22, and the Best Sportsman was Mr Phouttakon Bouttaveht or Ae, 25, each of whom received 600,000 kip and a Clinic Clear gift set.

The Manager of Clinic Clear Thailand, Ms Alounny Atsavalerthsak said, “The contest, entitled Mr Clear 2007 , represents the first time that we have held such a competition in Laos . The idea was to choose well-presented young men to appear in newspapers, magazines and on billboards advertising our products here.”




The organiser opened applications last month, over 50 people participated and six contestants were chosen to compete on Sunday.

The event opened with a showcase of breakdancing skills by dancers from the Lao Bangfai Breakdancing Club and was followed by a fashion show where six young men modeled sportswear and casual clothes.

During the evening there were many games, with the winners receiving company products as prizes.

The event also featured a mini-concert by artists from Indee Records including Modern Dance, Princess and LOG, who entertained the audience before the announcement of the winner.

The votes that decided the winner were 50 percent from the judging panel and 50 percent from the audience.

MORE PHOTOS*

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
September 04, 2007
Vientianetimes

Lao coffee is well known: for its superb taste and excellent quality. But still: the number of connoisseurs seems to be very limited. What is for Laos a big business is for the big coffee markets not more than a mere drop in the cup.

Mr. Viengkham Sinsangouane smiles. He just moved into the brand new office of the Lao Coffee Association (LCA), overlooking the riverbank of the Sedon in Pakse. Also the business outlook provokes the smile of LCA’s office director. “The harvest this season was good, we estimate about 25,000 tons.” This is good news for the Lao coffee sector after two years of very small production. The smile becomes even wider when he speaks about prices. Coffee prices are high; in February 2007 the composite price was around 104 US-Cents per pound. Compared to just 60 cents in 2004 a sweet improvement.

The Lao Coffee Association improves also in other matters. Traditionally an organization of coffee exporters LCA has now besides the 20 trading companies also 6 members in the field of coffee processing. So also the composition of export changes. 2006 saw for the first time exports of 3-in-1 instant coffee worth nearly 30,000 US-Dollars. Not very much compared to the 8.4 million dollars generated from green coffee beans... read more

The main customer of Lao coffee remains Poland accounting for roughly one third of all Lao exports. The second largest buyer is Vietnam, itself one of the worlds leading coffee exporters.

The two top positions among the buyers of Lao coffee are undisputed for the last three years, but the rakings behind changed dramatically. Switzerland, in 2004 and 2005 third largest customer, dropped from the 2006 list as did France and Spain.

Internationally coffee is traded in 60 kilogram bags. World production in 2006/2007 reached about 224 million bags; the estimated 25,000 tons of Lao coffee are equivalent to 470,000 bags or 0.19 percent of the world’s coffee. This amount is comparable that of Burundi or Madagascar. The biggest difference is that Laos is not yet member of the International Coffee Organization, a specialized UN agency overlooking the production, trading and promotion of coffee worldwide, including prices. ICO, which encourages a sustainable coffee economy, has currently 77 members, 45 of them coffee exporting and 32 importing countries. Only six coffee exporting countries, Guyana, Liberia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Yemen and Lao PDR, are not party to the Coffee Agreement 2001 and the ICO. The London based organization was founded in 1963 and brings producers and customers together with the target to stabilize the coffee market. Coffee farming is the basis of livelihood for about 25 million families worldwide. Retail sales of coffee add up to about 70 billion USD yearly. ICO exporting members account for more than 97% of the world coffee production; its importing members represent 80% of the final market.

The prominent appearance of two coffee exporting members of ICO among the biggest buyers of Lao coffee leads to the conclusion that both Vietnam and Thailand are re-exporting the Lao coffee to other markets. Thailand’s production in the 2006/2007 crop is estimated at 1 million bags, its export of 376.000 bags (Feb. 06 to Jan. 07) was slightly lower than the total actual Lao crop. The efforts of leading Lao coffee companies to brand Lao coffee is the only way to make the quality of this Lao product internationally known and to give coffee lovers the opportunity to get a pure Lao brew in their cups.

Source: Targetlao magazine