-
Home
-
International Report
- Europe/Russia
Europe/Russia
France | According to rumour, the banking group Crédit Mutuel has won the tender to acquire the site of the former Heineken brewery “Esperance” (“Hope”) in Schiltigheim, a community in the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg. The 1.5 million hl brewery, which was put up for sale in 2022 and ceased production in December 2025 with the loss of 220 jobs, spans 13 hectares of land near the town centre.
Europe/Russia
France | After 33 days, US drinks group Brown-Forman said on 28 April that it ended talks with France’s Pernod Ricard over a possible business combination, after the two spirits companies failed to reach mutually agreeable terms. The companies first confirmed the discussions on March 26, while also warning there was no guarantee a deal would happen.
Europe/Russia
Belgium | AB-InBev, on 6 May, posted first quarter sales and profits well above forecasts, selling more drinks for the first time in years and contrasting with a gloomier mood at key rival Heineken.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Guinness brewer Diageo, on 6 May, beat third-quarter sales forecasts, posting 0.3 percent growth in net sales, helped by strong Guinness demand in Ireland and the UK and stocking up in Latin America and the Caribbean ahead of the soccer World Cup.
Europe/Russia
The Netherlands | Heineken has started a court case against the US government over too-high import tariffs, CFO Harold van den Broek told company shareholders at Heineken’s annual general meeting on 23 April. He was quoted as saying by Dutch media that Heineken has paid “tens of millions of euros too much” to import raw materials and finished products into the United States.
Europe/Russia
Denmark | Royal Unibrew’s loss is Carlberg’s gain. Shares in Royal Unibrew lost more than a quarter of their value on 21 April, after PepsiCo reshuffled its Nordic bottling contracts, handing Carlsberg a long-term win and dealing a blow to its smaller Danish rival.
Europe/Russia
United Kingdom | Drinkers of some of the UK's most popular beer brands may have noticed that their pints are not as strong as they used to be. This is because breweries in the UK have been reducing the alcohol content of some of their most popular beers since 2023, and making huge tax savings as a result.
Europe/Russia
Belgium | Beer labels contain a lot of information. Some of it is required by law. Some is voluntary. Some is marketing. Knowing the difference is not always straightforward. That is exactly what the European Beer Consumers’ Union’s new Know Your Beer campaign is designed to help you with, via a new website knowyour.beer.
Europe/Russia
The Netherlands | Who knew that Heineken discreetly invested in the Iranian soft drinks company Castle Noush, partnering with the Solico Group in 2018, the same year the US tightened sanctions? In 2025, the Dutch brewer sold its stake to its partner and completely withdrew from the country after the business sustained losses, the website Follow the Money (FTM) revealed on 11 April.
Europe/Russia
The Netherlands | Heineken has sold its stake in Bralima, its brewing subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ending decades of direct ownership in a market where armed conflicts have severely disrupted its business. Bralima was acquired by Mauritius-based ELNA Holdings, which will take over operations, including production, distribution and employees, the Dutch brewer reported on 10 April. Financial details were not disclosed.
Most Read
BRAUWELT on tour
Most Read
BRAUWELT on tour
-
Hopsteiner
Hopsteiner breeding program: cutting-edge Technology for yield, resilience, and brewing quality
-
Hopsteiner
Hopsteiner reinforces its sales and marketing teams
-
Hopsteiner
Global acreage, crop and yields
-
Hopsteiner
Global crop estimate 2025
-
Hopsteiner
LLZ™ – hop oil with a pronounced citrus note