Scottish & Newcastle announced on March 24 that its UK operating division, Scottish Courage, has received notice that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has approved the joint application from Scottish Courage and Carlsberg to merge their technical services operations. Scottish Courage said that the decision takes both parties nearer to creating a new, independently-managed business that will enhance the effectiveness of this service for both Scottish Courage and Carlsberg and their customers.

Earlier this year, the two brewers announced that they are to set up an independently-managed technical services company in the UK, called Serviced Dispense Equipment Ltd (SDEL), which will pool the technical services aspects for the British on-trade. In addition, a new service company, called Innserve Ltd, will be formed to manage the servicing and installation of technical services equipment on behalf of Serviced Dispense Equipment Ltd.

26 March, 2004