Ethiopia: Heineken rumoured in deal talks with hard seltzer firm Komari

Ethiopia | Ethiopian media were running ahead of things when they reported on 14 October, that Heineken had acquired Ethiopian RTD firm Komari Beverages, the manufacturer of the Arada range of hard seltzers. To date, the transaction has not been made official. When approached by the website just drinks, Heineken refused to comment on the rumour on 15 October.

SA Breweries warns that inflated tax threatens jobs, local growth

South Africa | The beer industry is calling for an excise tax that is in line with inflation or lower. The country’s market leader, South African Breweries (SAB), which is owned by AB-InBev, said the current tax of 25 percent of the weighted average retail price is excessive and could lead to the destruction of the beer industry.

Nigeria Breweries turns itself into total beverage alcohol firm

Nigeria | It has been a tough few years for Nigerian Breweries. Its 2023 annual accounts spilled plenty of red ink and a few weeks ago it had to suspend operations in two of its nine breweries. Its first quarter 2024 statements did not bring a lot of joy either. The firm, in which Heineken has a controlling stake, posted a loss after tax of NGN 52.1 billion (USD 38 million), Nigerian media reported on 29 April.

Heineken Nigeria shuts two plants

Nigeria | Heineken Nigeria, in which Heineken owns a majority stake, has temporarily shut two factories in the West African nation, which is plagued by the depreciation of the currency that increased costs and impaired the purchasing power of consumers. The Naira is at least 50 percent weaker than a year earlier.

South Africans to pay more for beer, wine, and cigarettes

South Africa | Bad news for drinkers and smokers: Sin taxes on alcohol will rise between 6.7 percent and 7.2 percent and above inflation. The measure is to help the government raise additional revenue to close its massive deficit. Duties on tobacco products will also increase between 4.7 percent and 8.2 percent.

Nigeria: a tale of woe for brewers

Nigeria | It is hard to believe that Nigeria once used to be paved with gold for brewers. Market leader Nigerian Breweries, which is controlled by Heineken, said on 16 February, it is facing the worst downturn in the history of its operations in Africa’s most populous nation.

Outsourced workers for Heineken SA seek permanent employment

South Africa | About 50 workers at Heineken Beverages, which recently merged with South Africa’s alcohol producers, Distell, lodged a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to get the company to employ them on a permanent basis.

Cameroon | A Swiss entrepreneur is shaking up Cameroon's beer market. Eser Karatas’ brewery will come on stream before the year is out in the country's largest city – Douala – with ambitious goals.

South Africa | When Heineken divested the Strongbow licence in perpetuity at the behest of the regulators, no financial details were disclosed. This has not stopped pundits from wondering how much the buyer – Cider House Investments – would have had to fork out for the licence.

South Africa | We heard it on the grapevine that Signal Hill Products, the holding company for South Africa’s major craft brewer Devil’s Peak, is building a large cider production plant near Johannesburg. But only insiders would have known that Signal Hill was involved in Heineken’s divestment of its Strongbow brand in South Africa.