Ireland: Alcohol duty hikes spark industry outrage
Drinks trade bodies in Ireland have branded the Government’s decision to hike alcohol taxes as “disproportionate”, and urged a re-think. (more…)
Hawaiian beer comes ashore in Ohio market
Hawaii’s Kona Brewing Co. will distribute its craft beers in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri starting next month, according to the Columbus Business Journal. (more…)
UK: BBPA bemoans Chancellor’s duty snub
The British Beer & Pub Association has branded the UK Chancellor’s autumn statement a “missed opportunity” after he ignored calls to review the alcohol duty escalator. (more…)
Why The Beer In South Korea Is Even Worse Than North Korean Beer
A dull duopoly crushes microbrewers (more…)
GGB launches cassava beer, Ruut Extra Premium
Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd (GGBL), Ghana’s only total beverage business, has launched a new home-grown beer called Ruut Extra Premium Beer. (more…)
Interview – Isaac Sheps, CEO of Carlsberg’s Baltika
Earlier this year, just-drinks’ managing editor, Olly Wehring , travelled to Russia with Carlsberg to learn about the brewer’s plans for its Baltika division in the country. The unit, which produces the namesake range of beers, is the clear market-leader, but has had to struggle of late as the legislative environment has grown more hostile to alcoholic drinks. Having assumed the leadership of Baltika late last year, Isaac Sheps talked to just-drinks about what he found when he made the move, what he’s battling against today, and what he wants in the future. (more…)
Coca-Cola HBC S.A. Completes Acquisition Of Minority Shares In Pivara Skopje With Heineken N.V
Coca-Cola HBC S.A. announced that it has completed, together with Heineken N.V. (Heineken), the acquisition of 41.2% of minority shares in their joint venture company, Pivara Skopje, in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). (more…)
Heineken launches Offer for remaining APB Shares
Heineken N.V. today announced that Heineken International B.V. (‘HIBV’) has launched a mandatory unconditional cash offer (the ‘Offer’) for all the 12,127,715 issued and paid-up ordinary shares in the capital of Asia Pacific Breweries Limited (‘APB’), representing approximately 4.7% of APB’s issued share capital, which are not already owned or controlled by HIBV as at the date of the Offer. (more…)
US. Is Boston Beer About to Get Squeezed?
Craft brewers have been eating Anheuser-Busch InBev?’s (NYSE: BUD) lunch in recent years. While overall beer consumption in the U.S. shrank each year from 2008 to 2011, craft beer sales grew by 15 percent last year. (more…)
Heineken USA appoints new advertising agencies
Beer importer Heineken USA has appointed Zambezi and Edelman as the advertising agencies of record for Strongbow cider and Heineken Light as well as Amstel Light brands respectively. (more…)