Labatt Breweries is pouring $45 million into an upgrade of packaging and production lines at its Oland Brewery operation in Halifax, The Canadian Press reported October 4.

The capital investment means an increase in annual production volume to 1.3 million hectoliters, or more than 380 million bottles. The money comes from Labatt's global parent company, InBev.

The brewery and the province of Nova Scotia have struck a marketing alliance that both say works to promote their brands through the Alexander Keith's label.

In all markets across the country Alexander Keith's beers carry the symbolic words of "Imported from Nova Scotia" and the recognizable Nova Scotia flag.

Hundreds of workers at the Foster's brewery in Queensland have walked off the job in a protest over the company's efforts to introduce a non-union collective agreement, AAP reported October 5.

Members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union stopped work at the Yatala Brewery, south of Brisbane, at 11am (AEST).

A union spokeswoman said the workers would rally in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley today and would return to work at 3pm (AEST).

Another strike is scheduled for next Wednesday if no agreement has been reached.

ETU organiser Scott Wilson accused the company of using federal industrial relations laws to override what employees wanted.

"The employees at Yatala brewery have clearly indicated their desire for a union collective agreement but the company continues to ignore their wishes," he said.

Foster's has indicated the strike will not affect production.

Carlsberg Bulgaria, the Bulgarian arm of one of the world's largest brewers, reported sales growth of 26.5 per cent year-on-year in January-September 2007, officials from the Bulgarian office of the company reported, according to Sofia Echo, October 5.

Despite that the result represents a slight retreat from the 30 per cent growth level achieved last year, the company has narrowed its lag behind the first- and second-ranked players on the market, Heineken and InBev. Thus, Carlsberg is now in control of 25 per cent of the market, whereas Heineken and InBev hold with 30 and 26 per cent, respectively.

The sales pick-up is largely attributable to soaring sales of Shoumensko pivo, up 24 per cent on the year. This is logical because in the past six months the company complemented the Shoumensko pivo brand portfolio with four new products. Shoumensko is now available in 1 l and 1.5 l bottles, in a 500 ml can and a retro-bottle in honour of Shoumensko's 125th anniversary.

The company will continue with investments into technological upgrades. In the next three years it plans to invest 20 million leva in its Shoumen-based brewery.

Canada's farmers are expected to produce slightly more crops than forecast this year, thanks to increases in some harvested areas of the country, Statistics Canada said yesterday, The Vancouver Province reported October 5. However, overall production in September was still below the level of a year earlier.

Barley production is forecast at 11.82 million tonnes, down from 11.85 million tons estimated in July but up from 9.57 million tons a year earlier.

The estimates are based on the annual September survey of 17,000 farmers.

Trade in barley was more active last week, as the price set by exporters and processors is high, Agro Perspectiva reported October 3.

Agricultural producers still tend to keep grain hoping for higher prices. After all, grain cost constantly grows. Farmers forced to improve their finances and free some funds, were the only who sold grain of the new harvest.

EXPORT

Feed barley exporters purchase prices were UAH1050–1,200 per MT, CPT port.
Feed barley US$ prices ranged within US$247–257 per MT (FOB)/US$237–247 per MT (CPT port).