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Europe/Russia
... next the ban on alcohol advertising? Even without a government, Belgium seems to get things done. On 1 July 2011 a ban on smoking in cafés was introduced following a ruling by Belgium’s Constitutional Court.
Europe/Russia
Carlsberg issued neither an affirmation nor a denial. Since Carlsberg had never officially put its German unit on the block, the Danish did not have to publish a statement that the much talked about sale of Holsten to Germany’s number one brewing group had been called off.
Europe/Russia
So they thought the Court would overturn a finding by the European Commission? Fat chance. On 16 June 2011 Heineken announced that the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg has largely upheld the finding of the European Commission dated 18 April 2007, which said that Heineken and Bavaria had violated EU competition rules during the period 1996 - 1999 by setting up an illegal beer cartel in the Netherlands.
Europe/Russia
We have no idea what it’s like to spray something resembling shaving foam into your mouth but soft drink company Britvic thinks its latest offering, Turbo Tango, has great potential. Turbo Tango, launched in the UK at the end of June 2011, is a variant of the fizzy fruit drink, which is dispensed through an aerosol container using "nitro-fuelled" technology.
Europe/Russia
After a headline-grabbing strike and 18 months of hard-bargaining, the Belgian unions scored a victory. Instead of the 300 jobs, which had been identified for the axe in early 2010, only 167 are to go.
Europe/Russia
Heineken is front row and centre of a PR disaster. Thousands of pensioners from the former Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) brewery, represented by the S&N Pensioners Group think that the company’s new owner, Heineken, has not honoured pension promises. On 6 June 2011 the S&N Pensions Group (SNPG) made big headlines. Following Heineken’s announcement that they would not provide a discretionary pension increase in 2010, SNPG screamed murder because they think Heineken’s decision was in defiance of an assurance given by Heineken when they bought S&N in 2008.
Europe/Russia
In a highly unusual move, the leading speciality beer producer Duvel Moortgat plans to appoint Alain Beyens, 49, to its board. Mr Beyens is currently CEO of StarBev, which is the central European beer unit AB-InBev sold to private equity outfit CVC in 2009 for close to USD 3 billion. Before that Mr Beyens served in various roles for AB-InBev. He was General Manager for Belgium and Germany and later Zone President for Central Europe and Zone President for Western Europe. As a matter of fact, Mr Beyens was one of Duvel Moortgat’s major competitors in a number of markets.
Europe/Russia
Brewers know only too well that governments like to bite the hand that feeds them. Skyrocketing taxes on beer in some European countries is a case in point. The Brewers of Europe, fortunately, never tire of telling politicians that by providing over EUR 57 billion in taxes to European governments and directly and indirectly employing over 2.5 million people, the brewing sector is a large contributor to the European economy and that any tinkering with taxation will put lots of companies and jobs at risk.
Europe/Russia
The Irish are feeling bitter. Only hours after U.S. president Barak Obama did a publicity stunt for Guinness when he ordered a pint of the black stuff in a Moneygall pub on 23 May 2011, the drinks group was telling 400 of its 1,700 Irish staff to brace themselves for job losses. The Irish are not alone. The brunt of the job cuts is expected to be borne by workers in countries that have underperformed in recent years, including Spain.
Europe/Russia
You have to give it to AB-InBev: they are reassuringly predictable. If they spot a category that’s growing, they will have a product for it in no time. Viz Stella Artois Cidre. Not a cider, but a cidre. Already in February 2011 the brewer of Stella Artois beer unveiled Cidre, a “premium, crisp and refreshing” attempt to cash in on booming sales of the drink. Supported by a “double-digit” million-pound marketing spend Cidre hit the supermarket shelves at Easter. A premium Belgian cider allegedly made from apples fresh from the orchard, fermented in Belgium and imported to the UK, Stella Artois Cidre has a crisp and refreshing taste at 4.5 percent abv. The cidre is available in 568 ml bottles and 440 ml cans and since May it is sold in the on-trade too, although not in draught form.
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BRAUWELT on tour
Most Read
BRAUWELT on tour
