Susan Gordon, Business Reporter

William McConnell and Beverley Lopez are now partners in a beer bottling and distribution deal between their companies. - File

After an impressive nine months performance ending June 30, in its Wines and Spirits division, Lascelles deMercado using Beverly Lopez's Big City Brewing as manufacturers, is expanding that side of its operation and has gone into the beer market.

The Financial Gleaner understands that Lascelles Wines and Spirits was up to yesterday, distributing the new product called Kingston Beer, but was unable to tie down the specifics.

The company said it would release no details ahead of an official announcement, expected this weekend.

"Please direct your questions to Lascelles, we only produce the beer," said Lopez.

Kingston Beer will now add to the two locally manufactured brands already on the local market - the longstanding market leader Red Stripe, and Big City's Real Rock Beer which hit the market in 2001 and according to industry sources has minimal presence in the beer market.

Jamaica's beer consumption is 'low', according to Lopez.

Without distribution figures, it is unclear the likely impact Kingston Beer will have on the local beer market and what percentage of it Lascelles intends to capture or even if it plans to export the product.

Lascelles group managing director William McConnell referred the Financial Gleaner to the relevant division head for details, but that unit said it would not comment officially ahead of the announcement.

For the nine months ending June 2006, Lascelles earned revenue of $9.6 billion from its rum business which incorporates the production of wine, spirits and sugar.

- susan.smith@gleanerjm.com