Global brewer SABMiller expects beer consumption in India to rise five-fold over the next five years irrespective of high taxes and a low number of retail outlets.

The 8th China Brew and Beverage was all about raw materials, technologies, logistics and marketing. The International Brew & Beverage Processing Technology and Equipment Exhibition from 20-23 October brought together the Who’s Who of the industry. 46,751 visitors and 491 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions were welcomed by the organizer, the China National Building Material & Light Industrial Machinery Group Corporation (CNBLM). Well-known exhibitors presented products such as filling and packaging systems for bottles and cans, disinfection and cleaning equipment, beverages and additives in altogether ten halls of the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) in Peking. Market-leading German companies were represented by their local branches in China. Nürnberg Global Fairs, the international subsidiary of NürnbergMesse, was responsible for the German pavilion. A total of 22 exhibitors used the German pavilion to present their products to the Chinese trade visitors.

Home brew shop operators report that world’s financial turmoil has brought about a resurgence in home brewing in Australia, with more people buying home brew kits as they seek to reduce living costs.

The latest figures from the Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation show that wine exports dropped in value 15 percent in the year to September with the total volume exported falling by 13 percent to 698 million litres. Growth was shown in only two markets – Denmark and Hong Kong.

Energy drinks still seem to be all the rage. Small wonder that Groupe Danone has received a number of final bids from trade buyers for its Frucor unit, maker of V energy drinks. In the end it was Japanese beverage company Suntory which clinched the deal. Danone, which is streamlining its portfolio to focus on healthier products such as mineral and spring water, on 23 October 2008 sold Frucor for an "amount over EUR 600 million" or around AUD 1.2 billion, at the top end of analysts’ expectations.

Six months on from the Federal Government’s tax increase on RTD’s in April, the Department of Ageing & Health is pleased with the impact the rise had on the market, pointing out that “recent Australian Tax Office figures show a 23 percent decrease in pure alcohol sold in spirit form, between April and June”.

Lion Nathan’s most popular beers, including Tooheys New, Tooheys Old, XXXX Bitter, XXXX Gold, Swan Draught & West End Draught, will now carry a stamp: “Natural Beer Promise: Brewed in Compliance”. This statement confirms that the products are naturally brewed using only five ingredients: water, malted grains, cane sugar, hops and yeast and are free from additives and preservatives.

In October SABMiller launched a new national beer brand in India, appropriately named Indus Pride. The new mild beer is to crack Kingfisher’s dominance as the best-selling beer. Kingfisher is owned by United Breweries in which Dutch Heineken has a 37.5 percent stake. SABMiller is the number two brewer in India with a market share of 35 percent in its core markets.

Plans for the new Bluetongue Brewery at Warnertown (NSW Central Coast), north of Sydney, are currently on display for comment at the Wyong Council offices. The brewery, to be built by Pacific Beverages - a joint venture between Coca Cola Amatil and SABMiller - is expected to open in 2010.

A range of quality vineyards and winery assets in the Clare Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Wrattonbully regions in South Australia and Mt Barker in West Australia has been offered for sale on behalf of Constellation Wines Australia. The relevant winemaking and fruit-supply arrangements are subject to negotiation. In Adelaide, persistent ‘grapevine’ rumours suggest that Constellation is set to pull out of Australia completely if the market for Australian wines does not improve.