Seems like the winner gets it all. Being the market leader in the U.S. and Brazil, AB-InBev got away with raising beer prices by 9.4 percent in Brazil and 3.7 percent in the U.S. in the first half of 2011. As a result, third-quarter profits rose by over 16 percent to USD 2.03 bn compared with last year's equivalent of USD 1.86 billion, the company reported on 9 November 2011.

So do football and beer go together or do they not? To all appearances, football bodies are in two minds about it. FIFA, the international football federation, thinks it's ok, while the German Football Federation, DFB, begs to differ.

They don't give up easily. On 31 October 2011 the Scottish Government published its bill on a minimum unit price for alcohol. The bill looks to set a minimum price for a unit of alcohol as a condition of the licence. It also sets the formula for calculating the minimum price (based on the strength of the alcohol, the volume of the alcohol and a price per unit of alcohol).

On 26 Ocotber 2011 Carlsberg announced it has appointed Dr Isaac Sheps, currently CEO of Carlsberg UK, to take over the leadership of Baltika Breweries (Baltika), Carlsberg’s Russian unit. Dr Sheps will also be responsible for Carlsberg’s operations across Eastern Europe. He will take over on 1 December 2011 and replace Anton Artemiev, the current CEO of Baltika, who will nevertheless continue to serve as a member of the Baltika Supervisory Board.

Dutch brewer Heineken on 26 October 2011 reported a 1 percent rise in net profit for the third quarter (July to September 2011), claiming that strong sales in Africa and elsewhere offset the impact of poor summer weather in Europe.

Pollaers (Foster’s), Artemiev (Baltika) and Dunsmore (C&C Group): it must be the season for golden handshakes. The Chief Executive of Irish drinks and cider group C&C (Magners, Bulmers, Tennent’s) John Dunsmore will be in line for a multi-million euro payout after he unexpectedly announced his resignation on 19 October 2011.

According to Japanese media, French group Danone has approached Japan’s Suntory Holdings about a potential purchase of the French food giant’s mineral water business, which includes the Evian and Volvic brands, it was reported on 22 October 2011.

The Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd has been named as the first official outlet for The Beer Academy in Wales in October 2011.

A shrewd move which should have led to some serious chin scratching in Brussels and Amsterdam. The line-up between SABMiller and Turkish Efes not only allows the two also-rans in Russia to better compete against market leader Baltika, it also adds another protective layer to SABMiller and makes the world’s number two brewer less easy to take over.

Trade meeting in Milan

Milan does not only mean fashion – it also turns into a platform for producers, fillers and marketers from the beverage industry every two years, from wine, mineral waters, beer and carbonated beverages to juice and brandy or vinegars and oils. The average worldwide consumption of beverages amounts to over 4 billion hl, with tendency to rise. In beverage production, machines and producing lines also have to be cutting edge. Simei caters to these expectations. From 22 to 26 November 2011, visitors can see for themselves on the 90 000 m2 of the newly-built exhibition centre of fieramilano in Rho-Pero. On the occasion of the 24th edition of Simei BRAUWELT International talked with Lucio Mastroberardino, president of Unione Italiana Vini (holder of the Simei trademark since 2010).