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.

drinktec will in future take place over five days instead of six. In 2013 the World Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology is to be held from Monday 16 September to Friday 20 September. This was decided by the exhibition management in consultation with the Advisory Board.

EFFAT, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions, in its statement argues that a very significant part of AB-InBev’s profits are still generated in western Europe and that AB-InBev is dependent on beers, such as Stella Artois, Beck’s and Leffe that trade on centuries of European brewing traditions.

The German market seems to have been least affected by the global economic crisis: ranking third behind the UK and the U.S., exports to Germany dropped only 5.4 percent to 10.9 million bottles.

According to The Sunday Times, the Brown government believes the tougher law on alcohol would prevent up to 65 deaths a year and a further 230 serious injuries in car accidents linked to drink-driving.

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.