APJ

This FT article and interview with Philippe Jabre has focused on his investment in Brasserie Almaza, as well as his perspective on Lebanon’s future.

“This is not Lebanon’s first crisis, and it’s not even its worst. I hope to show others that they shouldn’t give up on Lebanon, that despite the difficulties, we should keep investing in our country,” he said. In 2021, Philippe Jabre acquired majority ownership of Almaza, making him the third generation owner and manager of the Brasserie Almaza that was created by his grandfather, Michel Jabre, 90 years ago.

Today, business at the brewery is more stable than a year ago, and exports currently make up a quarter of its production, a number that Philippe Jabre hopes will reach 40 per cent soon.

The FT interview can be read here: Philippe Jabre’s taste for an unexpected second act

In this reportage of the Lebanese beer industry, the program dives into Brasserie Almaza, the iconic Lebanese beer brewery and brand. We hear from Philippe Jabre as he explains what motivated him to invest in the company and become a majority shareholder.

The quintessential Lebanese beer brewery was founded by the Jabre family in 1933. Philippe Jabre acquired majority ownership of the Brasserie in 2021, with the existing local management team and local employees remaining in place: “It is a chance to employ qualified Lebanese people”.

As Philippe Jabre mentions in the interview, the Almaza brand is often referred to as “even older than Lebanon’s independence”.