The Taste of Samoa has returned home and will hit the market in a week as the ‘new’ $17 million tālā Vailima Breweries factory was officially opened last Friday.
Samoa Observer reports this marks the return of the production of Vailima beer to Samoa, a task that owners Saleimoa Charlie Vaai and Beatrice Ott have worked hard to achieve.
It was in 2022 when Samoa Breweries, owned by Paradise Beverages from Fiji, decided it was cost-effective to shift production to Suva.
Va’ai and Ott acquired the license and ownership of the beer back for Samoan production only after tough negotiations.
“This is the opening of our factory and our franchise, but we still haven’t sold one yet. The next part of this journey is entering the market and competing” Saleimoa said.
In the coming week, the company expects to finalize the distribution deal with Samoa Breweries. For now, the company employs 20 people but they anticipate that as the company grows and starts its own distribution, the number of employees will increase.
Saleimoa thanked Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa saying she had played a crucial role in getting the production of Samoa’s iconic beer back home.
General Manager of GHC Reid, local agents for Vailima, Cherith Lober-Soliai attended the Vailima opening with Sales Manager Latu Kupu and the Warehouse Manager Uluai Lemana.
