The family company Sa'd Abujaber & Sons, was founded in October 1946 and it started its activity by importing canned foods, drinks and consumer articles. It was the first importer of powder milk after the Second World War. Agencies like Martini & Rossi, Amstel Beer, Courvoisier Cognac, Ballantine's Whisky, Moet et Chandon, Bols Liqueurs and Black & White Whisky, were obtained between 1947 and l952. Business grew and with a 56% share of the market in Beer and Drinks, Raouf prepared a study for the establishment of a Brewery in Jordan. Discussions with Amstel Brewery culminated in an agreement and the first joint venture in Jordan was started in 1955.

The new company was called Jordan Brewery Co. Ltd. and had a paid capital of JD. 100,000.- (Equivalent then to nearly £.S. 100,000-) or US.$ 400,000-. The Abujabers owned 25%, Amstel 15%, Judeh Siwady 15% and the remaining 45% was shared by around 80 shareholders. The project met with difficulties when the Suez Canal crisis erupted in 1956, but after a year's delay the building was started in 1957 and production in October 1958. The Brewery had a Steinecker Brewhouse, (Germany) Glass-lined Fermenters and Lager Tanks from Tankfabriek (Holland) a small Bottle Filler from Enzinger - Union - Werke (Germany)and a bottle Cleaning Machine from Thomas Hill Engineering Co. (England). The capacity of 20000 HCL/year did not warrant an automatic pasteurizer and therefore a manually operated device was used.

Addition to the machinery and improvements in steam-generation and cooling gave the small brewery continuous growth while keeping the quality, at the highest level. In 1964, Amstel-Jordan as it became known, brewed and bottled in Zerka, near Amman, was awarded The Gold Medal at the 111e Selection Mondiale De La Biere ( Médaille D'or ) in Paris on 30 October, 1964.

The Brand maintained its quality-level over the years inducing a European beer connoisseur in 1975 to utter in astonishment " This is the best beer produced east of Pilzen". Jordan-Amstel was had the best reception and highest awards in all the Jordanian Industrial Exhibitions.

The first major machinery additions took place in 1977 when we purchased a complete production line from Holstein and Kappert. This expansion brought the brewery capacity to some 50000 HCL/year.

In l987 Jordan Brewery Co. Ltd. with inducements from the Economic Security Council, in Amman decided to merge with The General Investment Co. Ltd. another company of the group. The capital was raised to JD. 3.4 million and the new company was able in 1989 to take over The Arab Breweries Co. Ltd., the only other Brewery in the country. The purchase price was close to J.D. 2 million and a new plan for the overhauling of the newly acquired plant was immediately put into effect. The 15% share of the market the brand " Henninger " had was improved upon when the quality was brought to a higher level.

On the 22nd May 1990 both breweries which are a hundred meters apart were set on fire by a mob that was demonstrating against the high cost of living. Few bank branches and an alcohol factory nearby were also molested and put on fire. Fortunately, the damage was not beyond quick repair and both plants were back in working order within less than one month. The staff of both breweries showed so much loyalty and put in so many extra hours that they were truly a source of pride for Industry in Jordan.

The 1991 Gulf war was a repetition of the hard times that the company witnessed. In 1967, when the West Bank (Arab Part of Palestine ) was occupied by Israel and Jordan lost nearly 40% of its Economic structure. In 1991 all exports to Iraq were lost overnight. Both losses have never been regained as the two areas remain out of reach per our exports.

In 1993 it was decided that the Jordan-Amstel Brewery, needed a new bottling line. This was bought from Krones, Germany. The brewery capacity has therefore become nearer a 100000 HCL/yr.

To give consumers a wider choice a new brand was introduced at the start of 1999. "Philadelphia " the old Roman name of Amman was given to the brand. Lighter in body and alcoholic strength than Jordan Amstel, Philadelphia, has already acquired a clientele of its own. It will definitely have a much larger reception when, like its two sisters, it becomes available in draft.

In 1998 the company was awarded ISO 9002 and has since developed various management systems and procedures into the company setup.

In continuing with our strategy for better management systems we have upgraded our ISO 9002 - 1994 certificate to ISO 9001 - 2000 in a record time. Our company currently boasts an advance management system to ensure optimal service and quality throughout the structure.

Coupled with the new ISO certificate is a comprehensive training program designed to unlift all knowledge within the company.

General Investment Co. Ltd. has had a healthy and continuous growth since its foundation in 1955. Its paid capital now is JD. 7 million. It has well trained engineers and technicians and around 120 staff members while the distribution agents have a staff of about 80. All of them are aware that quality and good service have been the basic elements of their company's success and they are all intend to keep it that way.