Tiger Beer’s 100-year history: From Singapore birth to global production

[SINGAPORE] On Tuesday (Mar 24), Tiger Beer maker Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) said it will wind down its brewing operations in the Republic – almost a century after it started production.

APBS – which already produces 95 per cent of Tiger outside Singapore – said it will transition to a fully import-based supply model over the next two years.

Started in 1932 as a joint venture between Fraser and Neave and Heineken, the golden tropical lager has since built a global following and is available in more than 75 markets.

From British colonial rule and the Japanese Occupation during World War II, through to Singapore’s independence and years of nation building, Tiger has been a steadfast favourite of beer drinkers here.

It has served not merely as a fast-moving consumer beverage, but also as a barometer of the Republic’s transformation from a British colonial entrepot into an industrialised republic.

The Business Times looks at how the brand earned its stripes: its survival through global geopolitical conflicts, its rapid regional expansion, the high-stakes corporate warfare over its ownership, and the modern supply chain realities that have ultimately determined its manufacturing future.