Venezuela: Cerveceria Polar to restart operations

Venezuela's largest beer manufacturer says it will restart operations after shortages of raw materials led it to close some breweries, AP reported on August 11.

Cerveceria Polar announced on August 11 that it's received the malted barley it needs to manufacture the golden brew that is a favorite in the South American country.

The company makes more than 70 percent of Venezuela's beer. Last week, bottles of Polar began to disappear from store shelves in Caracas due to difficulty obtaining ingredients.

Venezuela's socialist government controls access to foreign currency, which means companies often must wait for official approval to import essential materials.

Government officials did not address the brewery shutdowns. In the past, authorities have accused Polar of trying to destabilize the country by creating an illusion of shortages.

12 August, 2015