With a population of 82 million and a burgeoning economy, Vietnam has been one of the brewing industry’s “last frontiers”. Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) could make foreign investments easier. However, all the “usual suspects” of the global brewing industry already seem to have a foot or two in the door.

Ah, the promiscuity of brewers. In Australia and New Zealand’s beer duopoly, global brewers don’t seem to mind to be involved in twosomes and threesomes with their competition. Carlsberg is the latest case in point.

InBev announces a long-term joint venture agreement with the local Pepsi bottler, the RKJ group.

Coca-Cola Amatil has announced plans to become the number three player in the Australian beer market by 2012.

Drinks company Independent Liquor has a new CEO in Doug McKay, following the December 2006 sale of the company to two private equity firms, CCMP and Pacific Equity Partners, for NZD 1.3 billion (EUR 706 million).

Lion Nathan told the market in March that it had received three expressions of interest in the sale of its Newmarket (Auckland) brewery site and was currently reviewing if it should sell the brewery and how much the relocation and construction of a brewery on a new site in Auckland would cost.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. said it will build a brewery in Foshan, southern China, to help reach its goal of doubling the distribution of Budweiser in China over the next five years.

SoBe diet? Atkins diet? Have a glass of a low calorie bubbly instead.

Australian drinks company Coca-Cola Amatil said that proceeds from the sale will go towards entering the Australian beer market.

Foster’s will refocus on its struggling multi-beverage strategy after completing the AUD 270 million (EUR 164 million) sale of its overseas and domestic wine clubs and services groups.