SABMiller’s beer volumes have been hit by the global downturn while its move to raise prices to cover commodity cost hikes further dampened growth, but falling barley costs and a slow recovery should help the group recover in the second half of 2010.

In parts of Great Britain, in Slovakia, in France and in Austria the sowing of spring barley is most advanced by the end of March of 2010. Because of the long winter and the continuing bad weather afterwards, the work had to start some days later in some regions. Nevertheless the sowing was almost everywhere on time. Like every year at that time, the sowing hasn´t started yet in the north of Europe.

The Dutch company, whose major brands are Heineken and Amstel, sold 8.0 percent less beer in the first three months of the year, or 5.3 percent on a like-for-like basis. Revenue fell by 3.5 percent to EUR 2.94 billion.

Giving an outline of his strategy for StarBev, Mr Beyens said that he was not to continue with AB-InBev’s but that he would pursue his own with a local team. StarBev’s headquarters will remain in Prague.

Peroni Nastro Azzurro will be imported from Italy and will be distributed selectively in the Netherlands. The beer will be exclusively available in 330ml bottles from Italian restaurants, upmarket bars and clubs, and leading domestic caterers and delicatessens. The marketing, sales and distribution of the brand will be managed by SABMiller’s Dutch operation, Royal Grolsch NV.

Usually, we would consider this sort of news a storm in a beer glass, that is, hardly newsworthy. The reason we report on this strike by Carlsberg’s brewery workers, which made headlines around the world, is because it points to a much deeper malaise in corporate cultures: the disregard for long-standing traditions and values by today`s cost-cutters and the presumptuous manner displayed by managers when it comes to consulting with those most affected by their decisions.

According to an internal memo, SABMiller reviewed its manufacturing and supply chain structures last year and saw that while its operations have made good progress in driving the efficiency and effectiveness of its brewing and warehouse operations, there still remain some variances across the countries SABMiller operates in.

It is understood the investigation involves linked chains of individuals allegedly making up to GBP 20 million (EUR 23 million) from share dealing.

Aimed at a younger clientele, the black lager will come in 330 ml bottles and will go on sale at selected pubs and off-licences, priced similarly to other premium lagers.

Conference speakers include Alexis Nasard, Heineken’s new Group Commerce Director, who previously spent 17 years with Procter & Gamble, latterly as head of its USD 1.2 billion Personal Care business; also Khalil Younes who joined Carlsberg last year as Senior VP, Group Sales, Marketing & Innovation, after 15 years at Coca-Cola where he was most recently President Global Juice Marketing; and Dr Werner Wolf, Bitburger’s new Managing Director, who came to Germany’s third largest brewing group from being Executive Director at Intersnack, the leading German savoury snack company.