Difficult economic environment | The Neutraubling-based manufacturer of filling and packaging technology achieved its 3% growth target in 2019 despite the difficult overall economic environment. Revenue increased by 2.7% year-on-year, from EUR 3,854.0 million to EUR 3,958.9 million.

Big Beer buying up craft breweries – what’s the customers take on it?

Customer perception | Large multinational brewers have long recognized the development of a profitable craft beer scene around the world. It comes as no surprise to find them trying to participate in this trend by acquiring already successful and established craft breweries. But how do customers react to such a takeover and how do they perceive it?

Craft beer sailing the seven seas

Globalisation | Craft brewers may see themselves as revolutionaries. But when it comes to setting up an international distribution, they have resorted to the Big Brewers’ time-worn models, which built on exports and licensing agreements to establishing breweries abroad, including some foreign M&A.

EBC publications | The EBC Executive Team members met on the 13th of November, during the BrauBeviale 2019 edition, to finalise the Work Plan 2020.

Important growht market | Ziemann Holvrieka expands its presence in Israel by signing an agreement on strategic alliance with the Israeli process technology and packaging specialist DrinkTech Ltd.

Krones | On 12 December 2019, the executive board of the Neutraubling-based company decided on additional structural efficiency measures.

Independence as a credo for the future

A French exception | The Meteor family brewery in Hochfelden, at the heart of the hilly Kochersberg hops-growing region in Alsace, has begun the 21st century with the eighth generation of the Haag family at its helm. These Protestant captains of industry for whom beer is the fruit of human labour have not forgotten Luther’s principles; in 2017, Meteor brought out a special edition beer to commemorate 500 years since the Reformation, with the Protestant Church of Alsace-Moselle.

Oh America

Hard seltzers | The hard seltzer craze has gripped the US. So much so, that White Claw’s shortage in the autumn caused a panic. How could an alcoholic drink that intentionally tastes like fizzy water with hints of flavour, explode into the drinking public’s consciousness and fuel a meteoric sales growth? The answer is: because hard seltzers are refreshing, have fewer calories than beer and appeal to all genders. But will they have staying power?

A buzz of activity on the Polish beer market

Consolidation | 2018 saw a number of changes in the Polish beer market. New breweries were founded and consumers were able to choose from a total of 853 new beers. However, there was some consolidation among producers. BRAUWELT International takes a closer look at the Polish market.

USA | Shipping beer and glass over long distances scores poorly on sustainability. Rabobank analyst Francois Sonneville favours a hybrid model, inspired by the wine industry, whereby beer is produced in the country of origin, shipped in bulk, and bottled in the market.