The History of the Backus Group: Peru's Largest Brewery

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Backus is the largest and oldest brewery in Peru, with 150 years of history since its founding in 1876. It leads the Peruvian beer market and, since 2016, belongs to Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewing group.

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Its portfolio includes national and international brands that are present in more than 200,000 points of sale across the country.

Among Backus products we find the beer brands Cristal, Pilsen Callao, Cusqueña, Pilsen Trujillo, Arequipeña and San Juan, along with global AB InBev brands such as Corona.

It also produces non-alcoholic drinks such as Guaraná and Maltin Power. San Mateo mineral water, which it had owned since 1936, was sold to Grupo Gloria in 2025.

The origins of Backus go back to 1876, when Jacobo Backus and Howard Johnston, two young American entrepreneurs and immigrants, decided to found the Fábrica de Hielo Sudamericana, an ice factory, in the traditional district of Rímac, in Lima.

Backus & Johnston Brewery and Ice Factory

Between 1879 and 1880 the factory changed its name to “Cervecería y Fábrica de Hielo Backus y Johnston”, and in 1889 it was incorporated in London as “Backus & Johnston Brewery Company Ltd”.

The move from selling ice to selling beer came about because Backus and Johnston saw the potential and profitability of the alcoholic drink when paired with ice production, since the ice guaranteed the preservation of their star product.

It is worth noting that in 1886 Backus and Johnston, on behalf of all the beer producers in Peru, filed an appeal before the Senate of the Republic to stop the Casa Grace proposal to cut customs duties on imported liquor, a measure that would have dealt a hard blow to the emerging national brewing industry.

In 1922 the company created Cristal beer, which over time became its flagship product and the best-selling beer in the country. Later, in 1936, the company launched Agua San Mateo, its first brand of bottled spring mineral water.

Backus Is Acquired by Peruvian Businessmen

Years later, in 1954, Backus & Johnston Brewery was acquired by Peruvian businessmen led by Ricardo Bentín Mujica, who moved the head office from London to Lima and turned it into Cervecería Backus & Johnston S.A., setting an example of nationalization through private initiative and widespread shareholding.

In 1966 a new beer distribution model was defined, under which Backus salespeople formed independent companies with exclusive rights in different areas of the country. This allowed Cristal to expand further in the market.

By 1971 Backus had founded two new brewing companies, one in Pucallpa (Cervecería San Juan) and another in Lambayeque (Cervecería del Norte).

Several years later, in 1993, the Ate plant was opened. This major investment provided the installed capacity needed for the expansion of the beer market, and the plant became one of the most modern in the Americas.

In 1994 the company bought 62% of the common shares of Compañía Nacional de Cerveza S.A. (CNC), its main competitor for more than a century, and also entered the country’s water and soft drink market.

Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston S.A.A. Is Born

With an eye on the future and seeking to take advantage of synergies in the beer business, in 1996 the shareholders of Cervecería Backus y Johnston, Compañía Nacional de Cerveza, Cervecería del Norte and Sociedad Cervecera de Trujillo decided to merge the companies by incorporating all of them into Backus.

The company thus changed its name, creating Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston S.A.A., the most important brewing company in Peru.

Backus Enters the 21st Century

In 2000, Compañía Cervecera del Sur del Perú S.A. (Cervesur), maker of the Cusqueña brand, became part of the Backus Group, with the aim of consolidating a company able to compete effectively in a globalized environment.

In 2002 the Colombian group Bavaria became the main shareholder of Backus by acquiring 44.05% of the company’s capital.

This started a process of divestment from sectors outside the core business in order to consolidate the beer and beverage business and become more competitive.

In October 2005 the Bavaria group joined SABMiller, which later also bought the stake held by the Venezuelan Cisneros group. With that deal, Backus became part of the second-largest brewing group in the world.

In 2008 the group sold 9.47 million hectoliters of beer, 11.4% more than the previous year, according to its annual report for that year.

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To this was added the consolidation of its portfolio, with a segmentation strategy and differentiated positioning for each brand.

Backus Joins AB InBev

In October 2016 AB InBev completed its purchase of SABMiller, and Backus joined the world’s leading brewing group. During that period, in partnership with Aquafondo, it provided drinking water to a community located more than 3,500 meters above sea level.

The project included building infrastructure and environmental monitoring for the community.

Today the group brews beer in five plants, in Lima (Ate), Arequipa, Cusco, Motupe and Pucallpa, the last one belonging to its subsidiary Cervecería San Juan, plus a malting plant in Ñaña.

Backus Beer Brands

Backus currently has a wide range of regional and national brands, in addition to the global AB InBev brands it distributes in the country.

Cristal

Historically the flagship brand of the Backus Corporation and the best-selling beer in Peru.

Cusqueña

The premium brand of Backus, whose design pays tribute to Inca culture. Today it is sold in golden, wheat and dark versions, plus the alcohol-free Cusqueña Cero.

Pilsen Callao

The oldest brand in Peru, born in Callao before Backus itself.

Barena

Aimed at young drinkers, it was sold from 2007 and is no longer in the portfolio.

Backus Ice

Launched in the SABMiller era as an extra-cold beer, matured at temperatures below zero.

Pilsen Trujillo

A beer that comes from the city of Trujillo.

Arequipeña

The emblematic beer of the city of Arequipa.

San Juan

The emblematic brand of the Peruvian jungle. It is consumed only regionally.

Miller Genuine Draft

An American brand that Backus distributed in Peru during the SABMiller era.

Abraxas

A limited edition brewed in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in Cusco, with three types of hops and pale, caramel and roasted malts.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro

An Italian brand that Backus distributed in Peru during the SABMiller era.

Corona

The global AB InBev brand that Backus sells in Peru, including the alcohol-free Corona Cero since 2024. You can read the history of Corona here.

Fiesta Real

A beer aimed at consumers in socioeconomic levels D and E.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who currently owns the Backus brewery in Peru?

Since 2016, Unión de Cervecerías Peruanas Backus y Johnston has belonged to Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the Belgium-based multinational that is the largest brewing group in the world.

2. Which beer and beverage brands does Backus produce?

Its beer portfolio features Cristal, Pilsen Callao, Cusqueña, Pilsen Trujillo, Arequipeña and San Juan, along with global AB InBev brands such as Corona. It also makes non-alcoholic drinks such as Guaraná and Maltin Power, while San Mateo water was sold to Grupo Gloria in 2025.

3. How and when was Backus founded?

The company began in 1876 under the name “Fábrica de Hielo Sudamericana”, an ice factory founded by the American businessmen Jacobo Backus and Howard Johnston in the district of Rímac, Lima. Over time they moved into brewing to take advantage of the profitability of beer combined with ice preservation.

4. Where are the Backus production plants in Peru?

The group brews beer in five plants, located in Lima (Ate), Arequipa, Cusco, Motupe (Lambayeque) and Pucallpa, the latter belonging to its subsidiary Cervecería San Juan. It also has a malting plant in Ñaña.

5. What happened to Barena beer and why is it no longer sold?

Barena was launched in 2007 and aimed mainly at young drinkers. However, it is no longer in the company’s portfolio, which focuses on Cristal, Pilsen Callao and Cusqueña.