Autumn of discontent

After the long summer break Carlsberg Sverige has initiated negotiations with the union representatives about the possibilities of transferring the production of beer, mineral water and other soft drinks from the brewery in Bromma near Stockholm to both C

Ringnes closes Tou brewery

Beer sales in Norway fell 7.2% during the first half of this year, continuing a trend that began a few years ago. Alcohol consumption in general is rising, but beer is becoming less popular. Grocery store sales of beer declined 7.7%, while bars and restau

Who is carrying the can?

A can of carbonated ice tea will cost you 25c deposit. A can of ice tea without fizz none. While a can of coke has a deposit of 25c on it, a can of coke with enough whiskey added to it does not. By the way sausages or peanuts in tins are deposit-free. RTD

Beating a retreat

Like an eager pupil trying to draw his headmistress' attention, Carlsberg Breweries let it be known that it too was keen to take part in the consolidation process of the German brewing industry. However, while Interbrew and Heineken were busy buying up br

Doing a Hamlet

Though this be madness, yet there's method in it. Or why should Brau & Brunnen's recent shopping spree go uncommented by Germany's media? Many years ago when Brau & Brunnen, which is majority-owned by HVB, one of Germany's major banks, started gobbling up

Waited too long

Will he, will he not? Sell Holsten, that is. Although Holsten’s major shareholder Christian Eisenbeiss (47) declared only weeks ago that he was not going to sell his 48%-stake in Holsten, which is Germany’s number two brewing group (9.8 m hl), pundits bel

On the right track

Carlsberg proved very bullish when it reported its second quarter 2003 results (until 30 June 2003) on 15 August. Its strategic priorities were to achieve market leadership in core markets with the focus on western Europe, eastern Europe and Asia, the sta

Budweiser meets the budget, drives a car, kicks a ball

A growing state budget deficit in the Czech Republic has the Social Democrat government looking for funds anywhere they can - including the sale of the state-owned Budweiser-Budvar brewery, writes Lyle Frink from Prague. Faced with a public sector defici

Board reshuffle

According to Belgian media, it was to be expected that Luc Missorten, Interbrew's Chief Financial Officer would leave the company " to pursue business opportunities outside the company." After 13 years with Interbrew he was apparently held responsible for

Focus on new plants: Hartwall, Lahti/Finland. Modern highly flexible filling centre for soft drinks

With an overall investment of some 225 million Euro, a mega project is currently under construction in Lahti for the leading Finnish Hartwall brewing group. It is still a building site. A part is already in operation: the high-bay warehouse, links with