In 2009, order bookings at the Krones Group fell by 18 percent, to EUR 1,916 million (2008: EUR 2,326 million). Not until the fourth quarter of 2009 was there any discernible turnaround in the ordering patterns of Krones’ clients, with a plus of 10 percent compared with the already weakened fourth quarter of 2008.

The manual, a hefty tome of some 1,000 pages, offers a comprehensive overview to those working in brewing and those wanting to start a career as micro brewers, says Dr Gresser.

In addition to the water reduction scheme, the brewer has set the global environmental goal of achieving a 99 percent recycling and re-use rate by the end of 2012 – up from 97.2 percent in 2007 and 98 percent in 2009. It will also achieve a 10 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and energy use for every hl of production. Since 2007, the company has reduced energy use per hl by 10.9 percent, AB-InBev says.

During the fourth quarter 2009 EBITDA went up 11.5 percent to USD 3.11 billion, thus missing analysts’ expectations of USD 3.3 billion.

The ASDI sets forth the terms under which Heineken N.V. will deliver approximately 29 million Allotted Shares to FEMSA in two instalments per year over a period of not more than five years. Heineken has the option to accelerate the delivery of the shares at its discretion.

Many of our readers will remember Gerd Majan from his previous life as Ziemann’s Deputy Sales Manager and Key Account Manager SABMiller responsible for Africa and Eastern Europe. Having travelled the world for 30 years selling plant and equipment for the brewing industry, he decided last year that it was time to start something new. And what could have been nearer to his heart than running his own brewery cum distillery?

With its comprehensive solutions Ecolab will present its Total Impact approach to the food and beverage industry at this year’s IFFA in Frankfurt.

The move came as highly-rated blue-chip corporate borrowers take advantage of lower loan pricing and longer five-year loan tenors to cut borrowing costs and stretch the maturity of their debt.

In western Europe, Heineken sold 47.2 million hl of beverages, down 5.0 percent organically. In central and eastern Europe, the decline was even steeper: - 11 percent to 46.1 million hl. However, Africa and the Middle East saw volumes go up 9.2 percent to 19.8 million hl, as did Asia Pacific: +1.4 percent to 2.7 million hl. Output in the Americas dropped too: -8.9 percent to 9.4 million hl.

Nevertheless, KP managed to increase its market share of the Polish beer market and reached 45.3 percent, up from 42.2 percent in 2008, thus expanding its advantage over its closest competitor Heineken by more than 10 percent.