One to go

Life is tough north of the Arctic Circle, especially for a brewer. Long winter nights, few consumers and difficult distribution do not make for easy living. Now Ringnes’s most northern Norwegian brewery, the Nordlands brewery, is set to close because it does not have a canning line. In a matter of less than a year, canned beer has secured 30 per cent of the Norwegian beer market. Ringnes, which is owned by the Orkla group, operates five breweries in Norway, but Nordlands may soon find itself to be the odd one out.

Beck’s output stable

Contrary to Germany’s beer market declining 3.9 per cent in 1998, Brauerei Beck managed to maintain its output level during its financial year 1998/99 (ended June 1999). Again Beck produced 5.4 million hl of beer, of which 2.6 million hl were exported. The brewer’s export ratio climbed 3.5 per cent points to 48 per cent. In 1998/99, the volume of Beck’s brewed under licence declined by 12 per cent, due to the economic problems in China and Thailand.
The group’s total sales were DM1.6 billion (US$850 million), a drop of 1.2 per cent year on year. Beer sales were DM983 million (US$520 million), down from DM994 million in 1997/98. Sales of soft drinks rose to DM339 million from DM332 million, while sales of glass containers fell from DM251 million to DM238 million.5 million from DM52..

Holsten Group to become top brewing group

After a surprise take over of the family-owned König brewery in Duisburg in January, the Hamburg based Holsten Group has become Germany’s major brewing group. It now controls 10 per cent (or 10.4 million hl) of the domestic market.
Holsten has been on a shopping spree for premium brands for some time, buying the regional brewer Licher (1.2 million hl) last August.
The prestigious König brewery (2.2 million hl), which was ranked 11th of German breweries in 1998, brews two brands with national distribution: the König Pilsener and the non-alcoholic Kelts.
While König has established strong links with the on-premise trade, Holsten has focussed on the food retail sector. No financial details of the deal were released..

Ownership structure under review

Carlsberg knows how to take everybody by surprise. The Danish brewer announced that it would sell its non-core businesses and review its ownership structure. Its 43 per cent stake in the Copenhagen amusement park Tivoli will have to go as well as its 61 per cent stake in the industrial arts company Royal Scandinavia. Moreover, Carlsberg is reviewing the financial and legal aspects of its ownership. This can only mean loosening the grip of the Carlsberg Foundation and its 55 per cent stake in the brewery. The latter move might allow the brewer to raise capital more easily should it decide to play a stronger role in the global consolidation process. As a first step, the group will divide its brewing business into two units: Carlsberg Denmark and Carlsberg International.6 billion (US$217.8%).

Output increased

The state-owned Czech brewery Budejovicky (Budweiser) Budvar n.p. expects its fiscal 1999 net profits to reach 325 million Czech crowns (US$9.1 million), with revenues at Ckr2.4 billion. In 1998, the brewer posted a net profit of Ckr306 million on sales of Ckr2.13 billion. Output for 1999 is forecast at 1.25 million hl beer compared to 1.16 million hl in 1998. The full privatisation of Budweiser has been repeatedly postponed by the Czech governments due to trademark disputes with Anheuser-Busch.

Power Surge for Red Bull

Research by Zenith International indicates that sales of energy and sports drinks rocketed to £700m (US$1.0bn) last year, making the brand Red Bull Britain’s third biggest soft drinks brand by value. More than 20 brands were launched last year. £20m (US$28m) was spent on advertising energy and sports drinks, says Zenith.

Raging bulls in full flight

First road rage, now air rage. Excessive drinking is the main cause of air rage, a British survey of cabin crews from 206 commercial airlines found. The poll, conducted by London Guildhall University, found that insufferable passengers, delays, stress, smoking bans and cramped conditions also provoked attacks on planes.

Pret a Big Mac

The American burger giant has taken a 33% bite of Pret a Manger, Britain’s premier sandwich chain, in a deal valued at £40m to £50m in cash. Pret a Manger runs more than 100 outlets in London and the southeast of England and currently plans to take the business overseas. Taking a stake in Britain’s hottest sandwich chain comes natural to a company like McDonald’s that is keen on diversifying into niche food brands which have potential to be rolled out internationally. The Aroma coffee chain is one previous example. The deal was met with consternation by the British media, fearing that Pret a Manger would sell out on its standards.

Take them to the courts

They have taken the first judicial hurdle. Interbrew has received the official go-ahead to pursue a judicial review of the Competition Commission’s decision at the beginning of January to block the brewer’s £2.3bn acquisition of Bass brewers. In May or June, depending on the timing of the next General Election, hearings will take place at the High Court in London. A decision may be reached in July.
Interbrew is challenging the prescribed remedy of having to sell Bass Brewers to one buyer only. The Belgian brewer is not challenging the ruling as such. It is believed that the legal action will give Interbrew at least until the end of the year to complete the disposal.
Stewart Gilliland has been appointed Managing Director of Interbrew UK as of 30 April 2001..

Whitbread sells pubs

That’s it. Another pubs estate has been sold to a bank. Whitbread, the hotels, restaurants and leisure operator, announced the sale of its 3,000-strong pub division to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity. The price was £1.625bn (US$2.3bn). Whitbread also said that around £1.13bn (US$1.6bn) would be returned to its shareholders via a cash payment and would include a loan note alternative. The payout for shareholders is expected to be completed by June.
Morgan Grenfell Private Equity, a Division of Deutsche Bank, is a new entrant to the sector. It has named Ian Payne, formerly Managing Director of Hilton’s Ladbroke casinos division, as CEO of the company that will run the Whitbread pub estate.
All eyes are now set on Scottish&Newcastle and its 750 pub outlets which are up for sale..