KHS AG, internationally active manufacturer of filling and packaging equipment for the beverage, food, and non-food industries, has set up a new Technology Center at the company’s headquarters in Dortmund. For KHS, this investment means investing both in the future of the company and also investing in the future of customers worldwide. The new Technology Center has a floor area of about 1,000 square meters spread over two stories, and is linked to an existing Training Center. Theoretical training courses and practical training on the ‘nuts and bolts’ therefore complement one another outstandingly. The cutting-edge communication systems are used and are linked directly to the KHS network.

The European Brewery Convention (EBC) is pleased to announce its report “EBC – two years variety summary for 2005 and 2006; The new malting barleys for Europe; "Spring Barley”.

PIANETA BIRRA BEVERAGE AND CO features “Coffee in good spirit”.

Bere Mures, the biggest independent beer producer, has put itself on the market. Its owners are trying to find an investor to pay at least EUR 150 million. Potential buyers include SABMiller, which operates in Romania through its Ursus Breweries subsidiary, and an investment fund.

You would have thought that, after the botched privatisation of Belgrade’s BIP brewery in 2005, deal making in the Serbian market had come to an end. But no. In December Heineken announced that it is to acquire the MB Rodic Brewery, in Novi Sad.

At the end of July Prince Luitpold of Bavaria bought the 400 year old Oberbräu, located in Holzkirchen some 30 kilometres to the south of Munich, thus saving it from bankruptcy.

At a local court, Dr Gustavo Möller-Hergt, 45, was awarded three months’ salary or EUR 150,000 as compensation for his unfair dismissal in September last year.

With the appointment of Rainer Grimm as CFO, the privately owned Wild, one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural flavour ingredients to the food and beverage industry, is getting into shape for an initial public offering.

A rainy summer and an ageing population dragged Germany’s per capita beer consumption down to a record low of 112.5 litres in 2007, the Brewers’ Association reported in December.

Pilsner Urquell’s advertising campaign is set to rub German brewers the wrong way.