Central African Republic | There was one thing you could rely on in Africa: Despite recurrent insurgencies and political violence, breweries were never the target of attacks. This held true until 6 March this year, when Castel’s Mocaf brewery in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), was firebombed at night. Reportedly, 50,000 bottles of beer (empties) were destroyed. Damages came to USD 200,000, Mocaf’s director, Alain Heraibi, told French media.
Netherlands | Unilever is the latest company to be added by Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) to its list of “international sponsors of war”.
Czech Republic | The 127-year-old state-owned brewery Budweiser Budvar said that it has registered a fall in its 2022 profit and exports. Net profit dropped 40 percent to CZK 201 million (USD 9.3 million) over 2021. Revenue declined to CZK 3.031 billion from CZK 3.115 billion in the previous year.
Austria | A consumer watchdog objected to Brau Union advertising its beer brand Gösser as “carbon neutral”. Because, in a strict sense, it is not. A court recently sided with the activists.
Austria | What is going on at Heineken that two local CEOs resigned recently? In April, Jörg Lehmann, CEO of Germany’s Paulaner Group, in which Heineken has a 30 percent stake, bowed out. Then, on 15 June, Klaus Schörghofer, CEO of Austria’s leading brewer Brau Union, which has been fully owned by Heineken since 2003, stepped down.
Switzerland | Blame it on higher prices for raw materials and energy that nearly 100 breweries closed in 2022, dragging their total number down to 1,179, from 1,278 in 2021.
United Kingdom | The Ellon-based brewer and pub operator, BrewDog, reported substantial losses for the third consecutive year, despite showing a 12 percent rise in revenue to GBP 321.2 million (USD 412 million) in calendar 2022.
Czech Republic | It is after 9:30 pm in a restaurant above the Prague Castle and the waiter is getting anxious. It is past last orders, and he wants us to leave. From the outside terrace, we have listened to a few scattered voices – some Czech, some English. A subdued beer tour has walked by – followed by two groups from the Brewers Forum. As we amble down towards the river, our feet and voices echo through the empty porticoes of Mala Strana.
Czech Republic | It was a good decision to make Prague the host of the 5th edition of the Brewers Forum (21-23 May). No central European city had ever put on a Forum before. Previous Forums were held in Brussels, Antwerp and Madrid, plus one online during the pandemic. The organisers, the Brewers of Europe, an industry body, wanted to show their support for the Czech Association of Breweries and Malt Houses (ČSPS). In 2022, they applied to get Czech beer culture added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.
United Kingdom | The asset sell-off continues at Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC). The latest brewery to be put on the market is the small Ringwood Brewery in southern England, which produces mainly cask ales. CMBC said on 7 June, that by disposing of Ringwood it seeks to simplify its business.