Switzerland | Migros’ 2.3 million cooperative members do not want to see alcohol on Migros’ shelves. In a vote they prevailed against Migros’ leadership: The administration of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives (MGB) wanted to lift the ban on alcohol, as did the ten regional administrations.

Belgium | Between the two family branches that own Belgium’s fourth-ranking brewer Haacht, a conflict has erupted over the future course of the business. The criticism centres on Frédéric van der Kelen, 88, the company’s Chairman, who has steered Haacht in one capacity or other for more than 50 years.

Belgium | Belgians consumed more beer in 2021, which indicates a slow recovery from 2020, as the country did not shed its covid restrictions until early June 2021.

United Kingdom | Is BrewDog a pub operator with a brewery attached, or a brewery which operates a string of bars? This is probably a moot point because, with more than 110 bars globally and nearly 1 million hl beer sales in 2021, BrewDog has shown that its integrated beer and bar business works to its advantage.

United Kingdom | Sales of low- and non-alcoholic beers have almost doubled in five years, thanks in no small part to the Big Brewers launching 0.0 versions of their flagship brands. The category now accounts for 3.1 percent of the UK’s beer market, IWSR said, compared with 2.7 percent globally.

Belgium | Outside of events like Sober for October and Dry January, is there a potential for the low- and no-alcohol category to become mainstream? AB-InBev thought so when, in 2016, it set itself the target that by 2025 one in five of its beers should be low or non-alcoholic.

United Kingdom | It makes you wonder why Heineken has decided to close its only brewery in Scotland, when all the world is talking about the environmental impact of “food miles” and manufacturers’ carbon footprint. Is not the concept of consolidating beer production in one or two breweries per market outdated, as it means that beer is shunted up and down the country to reach consumers?

Germany | Danish brewer Carlsberg may continue to claim its patent EP2575433 on malting barley. The European Patent Office, on 10 May 2022, overruled an objection submitted by the Munich-based NGO “No patents on seeds”. The NGO called the decision “incomprehensible” and said it will lodge a complaint against the decision.

United Kingdom | BrewDog is making headline news again. Not so much for its latest scheme, which will see half of the profit from its bars being shared with its 1,500 bar workers, who can expect to receive an extra GBP 3,000 to GBP 5,000 (USD 6,150) a year in cash.

United Kingdom | Dutch brewer Heineken said on 3 May 2022 that it will create more than 700 jobs across the UK as part of a GBP 42 million (USD 52 million) investment scheme into its pub unit. The brewer also said that 660 venues – or one in four of its Star Pubs & Bars pub company – will be upgraded.