Budweiser’s chief Bocek retires

The sudden resignation of Budweiser Budvar’s long-time General Director Jiri Bocek in early November 2016 due to ill health poses a problem to Budvar’s owner, the Czech Ministry for Agriculture. It has to quickly find a successor to Mr Bocek, 59, who has headed Budweiser Budvar for 25 years and steered it through several battles with US brewer Anheuser-Busch and later AB-InBev.

Its most recent victory was scored in Portugal where a court upheld a previous ruling, prohibiting AB-InBev from selling beer under the Budweiser name. This was reported on 31 October 2016.

As could be expected, Mr Bocek’s departure led to renewed speculation whether the supporters of privatisation in government will take this opportunity and push for a sale of Budweiser Budvar.

Over the past six years sales of Budweiser Budvar have risen to 1.6 million hl beer from 1.25 million hl. Almost 300,000 hl are exported to Germany, its major export market.

Founded in 1895 it is the last Czech brewer that is still state-owned. Operating at full capacity, the brewer will soon launch an ambitious expansion programme.