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Europe/Russia
On 1 June Carlsberg tightened its grip on the Nordic beer market by taking over Orkla’s brewing interests in an all-share deal worth an estimated DKr10 billion (US$1.25 billion). Orkla ASA, one of the leading Norwegian groups with interests ranging from branded goods to media, chemicals and financial investments, and Carlsberg will pool their brewing interests in a new Danish company called Carlsberg Breweries. It will be owned 60% by Carlsberg and 40% by Orkla. The number of employees will be 27,000. Carlsberg Breweries will have a total annual production of about 54 million hl beer, an estimated turnover of DKr23 billion (US$2.9 billion) and an operating profit of DKr2 billion (US$250 million). Last year Carlsberg’s beer activities generated operating revenues of DKr16.6 billion (US$2..
Europe/Russia
Last year, the Czech Bud-weiser (Budvar) brewery produced almost 1.23 million hl of beer, a 7.6% increase over 1998. Turnover amounted to 2.39 billion Czech crowns (CZK/ 1 EUR = 35.75 CZK). Net profits of about 478 million CZK are anticipated, a 17% increase over the previous year. Beer exports from the brewery dropped 7%. This is mainly attributed to the financial crisis in Russia. In 1999, exports to Germany also dropped 6%, compared to 1998. A total of 491,000 hl were exported to 56 countries worldwide. Budweiser continues to be the No. 1 Czech exporter with a 37% share of total beer exports.
Europe/Russia
It’s official now. The question which has been bugging the industry for years - "When is Interbrew going to go public?2 - has been answered. Although Interbrew’s owners have long resisted going public, the CEO Hugo Powell said on the occasion of releasing Interbrew’s 1999 results that Interbrew was to be introduced to the stock exchange before the year end.
The management has been requested to evaluate all aspects linked to an initial public offering (IPO) and to advise the Board of Directors about the terms and timing of this transaction. The purpose of the IPO is to fill Interbrew’s coffers with the means for further growth. Depending on how much control the three families behind Interbrew are willing give up, the IPO could fetch as much as US$1.35 billion.4 billion (US$7.5%).04..
Europe/Russia
This is how the Association of Austrian Breweries views developments in the beer and breweries‘ statistics in 1999. Consumption went up 1 l to 109 l per head. Domestic output rose 0.3%, and 4 new brewery plants were commissioned, raising the number to 99. According to "Statistics on the Austrian Brewing Industry 1980 - 1999", Austrians have reverted to classic beer types. Lager consumption rose 3.4% while light beers (max. 3.7 % alcohol by vol.) dropped 17.1% and low gravity beers (9 to 11% OG) 4.0%. "Weizenbier" also went up 3.2%, and "Radler" (shandy) rose 6.2% . The share of cans rose also in Austria by another 2%, reaching 19.5% of unit packs. Returnable packaging holds an 87% share for domestic beer.
Europe/Russia
Bootleggers, bargain-hunters, boozing box-watchers: British brewers are in despair. Their countrymen have discovered the pleasures of cocooning. Having a bit of a good time means sitting on the sofa, the remote in one hand and a bottle of cheap beer from France in the other. If you thought matters could not get any worse for British brewers, you are mistaken. Read on.
October 14, 1066: it was a typical autumn day. The sun was just rising above the Channel. King Harold had positioned his army at the top of Caldbec Hill along the Stenlach Ridge, a few miles north of Hastings. He expected to have clear visibility all around him. William of Normandy, his archers, infantry and cavalry would be forced to run up the hill to attack. That was the plan. An armada of white vans and pickups..
Europe/Russia
Heineken said that in 1999 net profit rose by 16% to 516.4 million Euros from 445 million the previous year, on sales of 7.148 billion, compared with 6.272 billion a year earlier. Operating profit as a percentage of sales increased to 11.2% from 10.5%.
While the European beer market was stable in 1999, the company registered organic growth of 3%, with nearly all European operating companies contributing to the growth and increased market share. Sales in France and the Netherlands were slightly higher than the year before; so were sales in Greece. Zywiec in Poland had made a "positive contribution" to operating profit. At El Aguila in Spain, nearly all brands increased their market share and profit was higher, too. In the U.S. According to Mr.S. Vuursteen.4% to 100%..
Europe/Russia
Rumour has finally become fact. Last year already Brauwelt International (No 5/1999) reported that the French biscuits to beverages group Danone was prepared to sell Kronenbourg to the UK’s major brewer, Scottish & Newcastle (S&N). Finally, on 20 March Danone Group announced that it was combining its brewing assets in France (Basseries Kronenbourg), Belgium (Alken Maes) and Italy (24% of Birra Peroni) with the brewing business of S&N. This partnership will create the second largest brewer in Western Europe, putting S&N’s output in Europe at 29 million hl (including the volume acquired from Danone). S&N will rank second behind Heineken and ahead of Carlsberg, Interbrew and Bass. According to the French’s modest appraisal, the new group will be Europe’s most profitable brewer.6bn)..
Europe/Russia
Richard Kelly, 53, a key architect of Molson Canada’s advertising strategy, has parted ways with the brewer following a recent management shakeup. Mr. Kelly joined Molson in 1997 and was Senior Vice-President of Strategic Marketing, after having worked as a consultant for several companies, most notably Labatt Brewing Co., Toronto, and its then president Hugo Powell who is now running Interbrew SA. Molson has announced the appointment of Michael S. Downey to the position of Senior Vice-President Marketing.
Europe/Russia
Since 1996 Palm has a joint venture with Browar Kielce - a small Polish brewery in Kielce - in the southeast corner of Poland. Kielce is a medium-sized town of 88,000 inhabitants, 170 km from Warsaw towards Kattowice.
At first only a Pils type beer was brewed. The name became Browar Belgia and the Pils was modified and upgraded to "Belgia Pils-Belgian Style", refering to the excellent Belgian brewing tradition. The Palm brand was introduced in ’98 and is very successful so far.
Sales rose from 15,000 hl in ’95 to 80,000 in ’98. Production could barely follow the sales, and at first some investments raised production capacity at the original site. First an existing chicken slaughter-house had to be partly dismantled. The roof was completely renovated.
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Europe/Russia
The Spanish government’s competition tribunal has finally released the conditions under which Heineken can complete its acquisition of Cruzcampo (5 breweries) announced in June last year. The deal promised to raise Heineken’s share of the market to about 40 per cent, putting Heineken ahead of the brewers Mahou and San Miguel which are owned by the French Danone group.
The Spanish government expects Heineken to divest one sixth (17%) of its production capacity and storage facilities. It further calls on Heineken to sell all its beer brands in Spain with the exception of Heineken, El Aguila and Cruzcampo. On top of that Heineken was ordered to lift exclusivity clauses in its contracts with hotels and restaurants and restrict its production and distribution licenses with other groups..
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BRAUWELT on tour
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BRAUWELT on tour
